Back in June, a man from Arkansas was accused of drowning his girlfriend’s two-year-old son while giving him “swimming lessons.” The man, Dakota Shawn Hays, and his girlfriend, Annastacia Atkins, are being changed with first-degree murder six months later.
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According to the Daily Mail, first responders were called to Atkins’ residence on June 14th after the two-year-old Daxton Ray Bull was found unresponsive. Hays had apparently been swimming with Bull and two other children for most of the day.
The report stated that while EMT’s treated the child, police interviewed the two other children at the scene. The children said that Hays had been teaching Bull how to swim and had “repeatedly tossed Daxton into the swimming pool”, although the small boy protested. During that time, Bull allegedly began “spitting up water.”
The filing also said that Atkins was allegedly inside “laying down” when her child began drowning. According to the report, Hays then ran inside to let her know what had happened, which is when Atkins hurried outside to find her child shaking. She allegedly gave Bull chest compressions before officials arrived.
While the other children were being interviewed, they had said that Atkins and Hays were often “particularly harsh” with Bull. One of the children said that they would hit him “with a wooden stick on his head, knees, feet, and toes.”
On June 17th, Bull tragically died from lack of oxygen to his brain. The affidavit also said that the medical examiner found “the child suffered severe injuries consistent with ‘abusive trauma'”.
Both Atkins and Hays Charged with First-degree Murder
Atkins has been charged with permitting abuse of a minor and murder in the first-degree. Hays has been charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in the first-degree and murder in the first-degree.
A week ago, Bull’s grandmother shared a post for what would’ve been her grandson’s third birthday. The caption read, “Happy Heavenly Birthday Daxton. Nanna loves you and misses you.”
Atkins apparently commented on the post writing, “I can’t wait to be with him again. Mommy will see you soon. I miss you so much.”
Bull’s father also shared a post following his death. He wrote, “I’m sorry this had to happen to you baby boy daddy misses and loves you so much and I will see that you get Justice I promise son.”