A two-year-old boy in Arkansas, Daxton Ray Bull, died in June after being repeatedly thrown into a swimming pool. The child’s mother’s boyfriend, Dakota Shawn Hays, 29, allegedly forced Daxton into the water as a form of “swimming lesson.”

🚨 Fatal Injuries and Arrests

Authorities responded to the home on June 14 after reports of an unresponsive child. Hays told officers he was teaching the toddler to swim when the boy started “spitting up water.”

However, one of the other children present, a six-year-old, told police a different story. The girl claimed Hays repeatedly tossed Daxton into the pool, ignoring the toddler’s protests. The girl also said Hays pushed the boy under the water to retrieve items.

Daxton died on June 17, and his death was ruled a homicide.

⚖️ Homicide Charges Filed

Hays and Daxton’s mother, Annastacia Atkins, 24, were both arrested and charged.

Hays faces charges including first-degree murder. The mother, Atkins, is charged with first-degree murder and permitting abuse of a minor.

An autopsy revealed severe and extensive injuries on the toddler, consistent with “abusive trauma.” The medical examiner found that Daxton suffered from a lack of oxygen to the brain, along with cuts and bruises on his body that were in various stages of healing. Other children reported that both Hays and Atkins had been physically harsh with Daxton, even using a wooden stick to strike him.

Hays is being held on a $1 million bond, while Atkins’ bond is set at $750,000.