SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A Willard man who was originally charged with murder in a 2025 case was released from jail yesterday after pleading guilty to second-degree involuntary manslaughter.
According to online court dockets, Bodee Melton, born in 2002, pleaded guilty to the amended charge in the death of Lavontae Bennett, who was 19 at the time.
Melton is set to be sentenced on Oct. 8, 2026, for the incident…