A mother and her boyfriend were arrested on first-degree murder charges late Monday in connection with the June death of her 2-year-old son, according to Crawford County authorities.
The child died June 17 due to a prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain, according to Jan. 2 affidavits for warrants for arrest of the couple. The manner of death was ruled a homicide, the documents state.
Associate Medical Examiner Dr. Christy Cunningham said the injuries to the toddler’s body were “indicative of inflicted, as opposed to accidental injuries, and supportive of abusive trauma,” the affidavits state.
Dakota S. Hays, 29, of Alma was arrested in connection with murder in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree, according to Crawford County Detention Center records.
Hays remained in the detention center on Tuesday on $1 million bond.
Annastacia G. Atkins, 29, of Alma was arrested in connection with murder in the first degree and permitting abuse of a minor.
Atkins remained in the Crawford County Detention Center on Tuesday on $750,000 bond.
The cause of the child’s death is known as Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy or HIE, which results from a prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain, the affidavits state.
Authorities also noted that the child had multiple injuries, including traumatic injuries such as head, facial and other injuries in various stages of healing, which indicates repeated trauma over time, the affidavits state.
The boy also suffered blunt force injuries to the head and face and patterned injuries, according to the affidavits. Abrasions and contusions were found and “patterned bruises inconsistent with accidental injury,” the affidavits state.
The autopsy results were released Oct. 14 to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office by the Arkansas State Crime Lab, authorities said.
It was June 14 that emergency responders were called to the Hays and Atkins residence in the Kibler area for a report of an unresponsive 2-year-old child, authorities reported.
Deputies said the boy had visible signs of injury to his face and head, in addition to bruises, swelling and irregular breathing.
Hays told deputies they had been swimming all day, the affidavits state. Hays said he suspected the boy had water in his lungs from swimming for a long period of time and he witnessed the toddler spit up water, authorities indicated.
Atkins also told deputies they had been swimming all day, took a break for dinner and then Hays and the 2-year-old got back into the pool, according to the affidavits.
Hays later told Atkins something was wrong and she observed the child shaking as though he was having a seizure, the affidavits state. She attempted chest compressions while Hays called emergency responders, she told deputies.
Two children, both under age 7, who also reside with Hays and Atkins were interviewed by investigators, the affidavits state.
One told authorities that Hays would punch the 2-year-old child and other family members at times. The child also said the children were hit by both Hays and Atkins, according to the affidavits.
(One child) said that (the toddler) had marks from being hit, and stated that (Hays) was particularly harsh with (the 2-year-old),” the affidavit states. “(The child) later revealed that (Atkins) had witnessed the abuse and had intervened by hitting (Hays) when she saw him hurt (the 2-year-old).”
The other child told investigators that Hays threw the toddler into the pool even though the boy did not want to swim and that the child had to retrieve the boy from the bottom of the pool, the affidavits state.
The second child said during an interview that Hays killed the 2-year-old, according to authorities.
Hays and Atkins maintained that the boy’s death was related to swimming, the affidavits state.
“Dakota advised he thought it was a freak accident and that he was scared because he had not been in trouble his whole life,” the affidavit states. “Dakota advised in the interview he would never hurt a child after being asked about the bruising on (the toddler).”
Atkins was asked in an interview with investigators if Hays was acting differently since the toddler’s death, according to the affidavits.
“Annastacia stated Dakota told her he was sorry and did not mean to,” the affidavit states.
