MONROE, N.C. — A Union County man has pleaded guilty in the death of Kilah Davenport. Joshua Houser plead guilty to second degree murder. He received a sentence of 13-16 1/2 years in prison. 
Houser is accused of causing a traumatic head injury to Davenport in 2012. Houser was initially charged with felony child abuse. He was convicted on the child abuse charge in 2014 and was sentenced to 7-10 years in prison.
Davenport passed away in Cabarrus County on March 13, 2014 just a few weeks after Houser’s trial concluded. Houser was then indicted on second degree murder charges.
Davenports’ case resulted in a number of changes to laws and sentencing involving child abuse cases.
Kilah’s Law was signed into effect in North Carolina in April 2014 and The Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act was signed into effect in May of 2014. Both laws increase the sentencing for the most serious of child abuse cases on the local and federal levels.
