Honk News (Crawford County, AR) – A couple in Arkansas faces arrest and charges linked to the drowning of their 2-year-old son, who authorities claim was thrown into a pool multiple times to teach him swimming.
Two individuals from Van Buren, Annastacia Atkins, 24, and Dakota Shawn Hays, 29, were taken into custody on Monday, January 13, facing first-degree murder charges linked to the death of a boy in June 2024, as stated in an arrest warrant.
Atkins faces charges related to allowing the abuse of a minor, while Hays is charged with endangering a minor’s welfare, as per online jail records.
A boy passed away on June 17 due to an extended lack of oxygen to the brain. This occurred three days after Atkins and Hays contacted 911 when the child was unresponsive following a swim in a pool at Hays’ aunt’s residence, as stated in an affidavit for a warrant of arrest filed on Thursday, Jan. 2.
An autopsy revealed that the child had “multiple traumatic injuries” to the head, face, and torso, which were “in various stages of healing, indicative of repeated trauma over time,” as stated in the affidavit.
On June 14, deputies responded to a call at the family’s residence, where Hays reported that he had been instructing the boy along with a 6-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy in swimming that day, according to the affidavit. The parentage of the children remains uncertain, whether they belong to Atkins or Hays.
The family paused for dinner after a day of swimming, according to the affidavit. Following dinner, Hays and the toddler returned to the pool for a swim as the others prepared for bed, according to the affidavit.
Approximately 45 minutes later, Hays returned to the house to inform her that “something was wrong” with the 2-year-old, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit states that after being removed from the pool, Atkins found the child’s body to be cold. Atkins reportedly stated that the boy’s “eyes were stuck” and his arms were extended straight out in front of him, immobilized.
Atkins reported that the boy was unresponsive, with no heartbeat or breathing. According to the affidavit, she stated that when she began to push on his chest, he coughed up water.
Hays told deputies that the three kids would cling to him while he held their noses and submerged them before resurfacing.
The couple claimed that the injuries were unintentional and suggested that the boy’s symptoms were probably connected to the swimming activities of the day, according to the affidavit.
Atkins reportedly expressed worries to the deputies, stating that Hays had previously been aggressive with the boy, according to the affidavit.
Detectives launched an investigation and discovered the 2-year-old’s previous injuries, along with allegations of abuse involving two other children, as stated in the affidavit.
A 4-year-old boy reported nearly drowning after being thrown into a pool, according to the affidavit against Hays.
A 4-year-old claims that Hays and Atkins physically punished him by hitting him with a stick on his head, knees, and feet, according to the affidavit.
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A 6-year-old girl told detectives that Hays pushed the 2-year-old underwater, claiming he “did not want to swim but Dakota would throw him into the pool,” according to the affidavit. She claimed Hays repeatedly tossed the 2-year-old into the pool, stating that “she would have to go retrieve him from the bottom of the pool.”
Hays is currently in custody at the Crawford County Jail with a bond set at $1 million. Atkins remains in custody with a bond set at $750,000.