LA GRANGE MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR DEATH OF SEVEN-MONTH-OLD CHILD

  

A La Grange man has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison in the death of a seven-month-old child in 2016.

39-year-old Billy Polasek was sentenced Wednesday for the death of Logan Atkins on July 4, 2016.  His sentence also carries a $10,000 fine, and he will be eligible for parole after serving at least 30 years.

Polasek’s defense lawyers stated Atkins’ death occurred as the result of an accident while he was being bathed by Polasek in a water trough at Polasek’s home in Rutersville.  Prosecutors said Polasek failed to immediately seek help after Atkins suffered a fatal injury, instead staging a scene to make it appear as he was giving Atkins a bath.

During the trial, prosecutors stated Polasek caused the blunt force trauma that killed Atkins, but never submitted a murder weapon as evidence or otherwise explained what happened.

Prosecutors also accused Polasek of starting a fire on the property to burn evidence after investigators left on July 4^th.  Polasek’s defense refuted by saying burning trash is common in the country, where he lived.

Blood that was determined through DNA examination to be Atkins’ was found on Polasek’s mattress and pillow case.  Polasek told investigators he checked for a pulse and attempted CPR on Atkins after, according to Polasek, he fell in the water trough and either hit his head or drowned.

Polasek said he did not immediately call 911 because he was focused on getting the child to the hospital.  However, the prosecution said Polasek, after calling to inform Nicole Lambert, Logan’s mother, about the injury, traveled less than a mile from his home down Highway 159 to La Grange, while Lambert made it from her mother’s house in La Grange to Rocky Creek Road in the same eight-minute timeframe.

The jury deliberated for seven hours between Monday and Tuesday before returning the guilty verdict, and for around an hour for Polasek’s punishment.