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Hendricks County man found guilty of murdering child

Posted at 9:27 PM, Sep 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-11 21:29:36-04

DANVILLE — A jury found a Hendricks County man guilty Wednesday in the 2017 murder of his girlfriend's four-year-old son.

A jury found Michael P. Atkinson, 25, guilty of murder, aggravated battery resulting in death and neglect of a dependent resulting in death, according to a news release from the Hendricks County Prosecutor's Office.

Danville police officers were called to a home on Nov. 11, 2017, to assist the Danville Fire Department with an unconscious child. The child had to be revived with CPR and his injuries were so severe that he was placed on a ventilator. He was rushed to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, but died two days later.

The Marion County Medical Examiner's Office determined the boy's injuries were caused by blunt force trauma, and ruled the death a homicide.

Atkinson was arrested on Jan. 16, 2018, and he has been held in the Hendricks County Jail. He will be sentenced Oct. 7.

Atkinson's girlfriend was not charged in the case.