On September 2, 2022, six-year-old Jozlyn Marie Beechner was beaten to death with a baseball bat by her father, Dustin Beechner, age 37, at their home on Mitchell Avenue in St. Joseph, Missouri. Police found the child's lifeless body on the roof of the house, covered in a white sheet, with blunt force trauma to the head. Dustin Beechner was arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in death and was ordered held without bond. The Missouri Department of Social Services later revealed that Jozlyn had been removed from her father's care on three separate occasions (in 2017, 2019, and 2020) due to violent incidents, but each time she was returned to him after he was released from jail. Dustin Beechner subsequently died in jail from self-inflicted injuries, and the criminal case never reached trial.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The KKTV news article states Dustin Beechner is "accused of beating his 6-year-old daughter to death with a bat." The News Press Now article corroborates this, stating police arrived to find the child and that "Her father, Dustin Beechner, was arrested and charged with beating the little girl to death with a baseball bat." The KKTV article also states police "found the child dead with blunt force trauma to the head."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
The News Press Now article states that "the case disappeared from public view after Dustin Beechner died in jail from self-inflicted injuries." This indicates the father killed the child and subsequently took his own life while incarcerated, though the suicide occurred in jail after arrest rather than at the scene of the crime, so it is not a classic immediate murder-suicide.
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The KKTV article identifies the perpetrator as Dustin Beechner, the child's father, stating he is "accused of beating his 6-year-old daughter to death with a bat." The News Press Now article confirms: "Her father, Dustin Beechner, was arrested and charged with beating the little girl to death with a baseball bat." The child's last name matches the father's, and both the KKTV article and the obituary identify her as "Jozlyn Marie Beechner."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The News Press Now article details three prior DSS interactions with the Beechner family before the fatal incident on September 2, 2022: In 2017, Jozlyn was present when her father was intoxicated and throwing knives at a wall, and she was placed on a safety plan with her grandmother. In 2019, she was placed with a babysitter after the father was arrested for a verbal/physical disturbance with a significant other. In 2020, DSS received a report of the father brandishing a knife during a dispute with another male while Jozlyn was present, and she was placed with a friend. All three times she was returned to her father's care.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The KKTV article states: "Dustin Beechner, of St. Joseph, is charged with child abuse resulting in death." The News Press Now article confirms: "Her father, Dustin Beechner, was arrested and charged with beating the little girl to death with a baseball bat."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The News Press Now article describes the 2019 incident where the father was "arrested for a verbal/physical disturbance with a significant other," which constitutes domestic violence. Additionally, in 2017 the father was intoxicated and throwing knives at a wall, and in 2020 he was brandishing a knife during a dispute with another male, both indicative of violent behavior in the home.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The News Press Now article notes that "DSS documents show that Dustin Beechner agreed to counseling after the 2017 incident, but it also said the state did not provide services." The agreement to counseling implies mental health concerns were identified. Additionally, the father's death in jail from self-inflicted injuries further suggests mental health issues.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The News Press Now article documents multiple prior arrests of Dustin Beechner that predate the September 2022 fatal incident: In 2017, he was arrested (intoxicated, throwing knives), in 2019 he was arrested for a verbal/physical disturbance with a significant other, and in 2020 he was arrested for brandishing a knife. Each time Jozlyn was placed elsewhere and then returned when he was released from jail.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The News Press Now article states that in the 2017 incident, Jozlyn was present when "her father was intoxicated and throwing knives at a wall." The father being intoxicated is a direct reference to substance use by the parent/caregiver.
Notable Details
The News Press Now article reveals significant systemic failures: Jozlyn was removed from the home three times by DSS before her death but was returned to her father each time. After the 2017 incident, "Dustin Beechner agreed to counseling... but it also said the state did not provide services." The father subsequently died in jail from self-inflicted injuries, causing the criminal case to disappear from public view without a trial. The article also highlights that DSS cannot unilaterally remove a child — that authority belongs to juvenile court judges — and that the focus on family reunification as the primary goal may have contributed to the child being returned to a dangerous home. Multiple agencies (DSS, Voices of Courage, juvenile office, police) were not effectively coordinating to protect Jozlyn, with Melissa Birdsell of Voices of Courage noting "There may have been some missed opportunities there."
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.