After a thorough investigation by the Danville Metropolitan Police Department, 23 year old Michael P Atkinson of Danville has been formally charged with Aggravated Battery and Neglect of a Dependent Causing Death in Hendricks County Superior Court.
Danville Officers were dispatched to a home late on November 11th to assist the Danville Fire Department after a call came in to the Hendricks County Communications Center regarding an unconscious 4 year old boy.
The 4 year old had to be revived with CPR, and his injuries were so severe that he was placed on a ventilator and transferred to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis for continued care. He died two days later.
The Marion County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the injuries were caused by blunt force trauma, and officially ruled his death a homicide late last week.
The boy was the son of Atkinson’s girlfriend. She is not facing charges at this time.
“Our department is deeply saddened by the death of this defenseless four year old boy. Our officers, administration and investigators have worked tirelessly since the moment this call came in to bring the individual responsible for this heinous crime to justice. Our investigation included a large amount of executed search warrants, countless interviews, a multitude of evidence, and a sheer determination by everyone within our department to make sure this boy’s horrible death was solved.”
Atkinson was taken into custody earlier this evening and lodged in the Hendricks County Jail.
REMINDER: ALL suspects are innocent until PROVEN guilty in a court of law.
