An Arkansas mother and her husband have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after authorities say they repeatedly threw her 2-year-old son into a pool, claiming they were “teaching him how to swim”.
Dakota Shawn Hays, 29, and Annastacia Atkins, 24, were taken into custody on Jan. 13, 2025, following a months-long investigation.
The drowning incident occurred on June 14, 2024, at a pool at Hays’ aunt’s house in Van Buren, Ark.
According to an affidavit filed on Jan. 2, the couple called 911 after the child became unresponsive.
Despite medical efforts, the boy died three days later, on June 17, from brain damage caused by a prolonged lack of oxygen.
Atkins, the boy’s mother, also faces a charge of permitting the abuse of a minor, while Hays has been charged with endangering the welfare of a minor.
According to investigators, Hays claimed he was teaching the toddler and two other children, a 6-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy, “how to swim” at his aunt’s home.
He allegedly admitted to holding the children’s noses and taking them to the bottom of the pool.
After swimming earlier in the day, the family paused for dinner before Hays returned to the pool with the 2-year-old.
About 45 minutes later, Hays told Atkins something was wrong.
When Atkins retrieved the child, she said his body was cold and stiff, with his eyes locked open and arms rigid.
Despite CPR efforts, the boy succumbed to his injuries three days later.
An autopsy revealed the boy had multiple bruises and injuries on his head, face, and torso, many in various stages of healing, indicating ongoing physical abuse.
Two children who were present provided troubling accounts to investigators.
A 6-year-old girl said, Hays repeatedly threw the toddler into the pool and forced her to retrieve him from the bottom. “He didn’t want to swim, but Dakota kept throwing him in,” she told authorities.
A 4-year-old boy also claimed that Hays threw him into the pool, and he nearly drowned. He further alleged that both Hays and Atkins hit him with a stick as punishment.
While the couple denied intentionally harming the boy, Atkins reportedly told police she had concerns about Hays’ aggressive behavior in the past but failed to intervene.
Authorities allege there was a pattern of ongoing abuse, not only toward the 2-year-old but also the other children in the home.
Hays is being held on a $1 million bond, while Atkins’ bond is set at $750,000. It remains unclear if either has retained legal representation.
The investigation remains active as detectives continue to gather evidence and testimony regarding the boy’s death and the alleged abuse of the other children.
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