Crawford County, Ark. — A tragic incident in Crawford County has led to the arrest of two individuals accused of the murder of a two-year-old child. Dakota Hays, 29, of Alma, and Annastacia Atkins, 24, of El Paso, Arkansas, were both arrested on January 13, 2025, and charged with first-degree murder. Hays faces an additional charge of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, while Atkins is charged with permitting abuse of a minor.
The charges stem from the death of the toddler, which occurred on June 14, 2024, when deputies responded to a call in Kibler about an unresponsive child. According to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), Hays is the stepfather of the victim, and Atkins is the child’s mother. The investigation revealed disturbing details about the child’s final moments.
On the day of the incident, Hays and Atkins were reportedly swimming with three children, including the two-year-old. The probable cause affidavit obtained by CCSO states that Hays was teaching the child to swim by throwing them into the water and pushing them under the surface to retrieve items from the pool’s bottom. One of the other children present during the incident told authorities that Hays had been forcefully holding the toddler underwater, even after the child expressed a desire not to swim.
Hays claimed that the child had only been underwater for brief moments, and he had noticed the child spitting up water, which led him to believe the toddler had water in their lungs. Atkins, who was inside the house at the time, was informed by Hays that something was wrong with the child. Upon going outside, she saw the toddler shaking, and believed the child was having a seizure. Atkins attempted to revive the child by performing chest compressions, believing the child’s heart had stopped.
An examination by a doctor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences later reviewed a CT scan of the child’s lungs, which showed signs consistent with drowning. An autopsy performed by the Arkansas State Crime Lab in October confirmed the cause of death as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a condition caused by a prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain. The child also showed signs of severe injuries consistent with abusive trauma, and the death was ultimately ruled a homicide.
Further interviews with the other two children involved in the incident revealed additional disturbing details. They reported that Hays had been throwing the victim into the water despite the child’s reluctance to swim. One of the children also stated that Hays would hit them with a wooden stick on their head, feet, knees, and toes.
Following a thorough investigation, which involved collaboration between the CCSO and the county’s prosecuting attorney’s office, arrest warrants were issued for both Hays and Atkins. Hays is currently being held in the Crawford County Detention Center on a $1 million bond, while Atkins is being held on a $750,000 bond.
The case continues to unfold, and authorities have expressed their commitment to seeking justice for the young victim.