‘Harsh’ stepdad drowned wife’s son after throwing him into pool repeatedly to teach him to swim: DA

Left: Dakota Shawn Hays (Crawford County Sheriff’s Department). Right: Annastacia Atkins (CCSD).

Left to right: Dakota Shawn Hays, Annastacia Atkins (Crawford County Sheriff’s Department).

A stepfather in Arkansas allegedly murdered his wife’s 2-year-old son by repeatedly throwing him into a pool and pushing him underwater while his mom gave the OK, ultimately drowning the toddler in what the couple said was attempt to teach the boy how to swim, prosecutors say.

Dakota Shawn Hays, 29, and Annastacia Atkins, 24, of Van Buren, were arrested and charged this week with first-degree murder and other offenses in connection to the June 2024 death of Atkins’ son and for previous allegations of abuse that were uncovered during the death investigation, according to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney. The couple was named in an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime on Thursday that outlines how Atkins allegedly let Hays abuse her 2-year-old.

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