Earlier this month, Rybak, 28, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and two counts tampering with evidence in the death of 19-month-old Takota Hasty, the son of his girlfriend Crystal Laurel.
Rybak also waived his right to any appeals in the case.
A group of people, including the family of Takota, held a peaceful demonstration outside the courthouse Thursday, asking for harsher penalties for suspects in child abuse cases.
A sign of one of the protesters read, “We need real justice for the children.”
A family member of Takota spoke in court on Thursday.
“You ripped Takota’s life from him, and you ripped our hearts out,” Shawnterra Shawhan, Takota’s aunt, said to Rybak. “All we have now are the short memories.”
As tears flowed down her face, Shawhan said, “I hope to God you have plenty of time to think about what you have done to Takota, and the pain you have caused our family.”
Investigators said Rybak used makeup to cover up bruises and burn marks on Takota, who suffered the injuries while in the care of Rybak and Laurel.
Investigators were notified of the incident after Takota arrived at Dayton Children’s Hospital. He had no pulse and was not breathing, and suffered numerous bruises, abrasions and burn marks, prosecutors said.
He was placed on life support but had no brain activity. He was removed from life support and died the next afternoon of blunt force trauma, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.
“This toddler was abused, beaten and burned to the point that his injuries proved fatal,” Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. said in a release.
Laurel previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, child endangering, tampering with evidence and permitting child abuse. She has not yet been sentenced, but remains in custody.
UPDATE@11:43 a.m.:
Dustin Rybak — the man who tried to conceal a toddler’s injuries before the child died in April 2013 — was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Earlier this month, Rybak pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and two counts tampering with evidence in the death of 19-month-old Takota Hasty, the son of his girlfriend Crystal Laurel.
From 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. today, a group of people will be outside of Montgomery County Common Pleas Court to stand against child abuse, in memory of Takota Hasty.
For more information, go here.
UPDATE @ 11:31 a.m.:
A group of people, including the family of Takota Hasty, held a peaceful demonstration outside the court house, asking for harsher penalties for suspect’s in child abuse cases.
A sign of one of the protesters read, “We need real justice for the children.”
UPDATE @ 9:50 a.m. (March 31):
A family member of Takota Hasty spoke in court today.
“You ripped Takota’s life from him and you ripped our hearts out,” Shawnterra Shawhan, Hasty’s aunt, said to Rybak. “All we have now are the short memories.”
As tears flowed down her face, Shawhan said, “I hope to God you have plenty of time to think about what you have done to Takota, and the pain you have caused our family.”
UPDATE @ 9:41 a.m. (March 31):
Dustin Rybak will serve 18 years in prison, according to the judge.
Rybak has waived his right to any appeals in the case.
UPDATE @ 9:38 a.m. (March 31):
The sentencing for Dustin Rybak has begun in court.
FIRST REPORT (March 11)
The man who tried to conceal a toddler’s injuries before he died in April 2013 pleaded guilty today to multiple charges.
Dustin Rybak, 28, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and two counts tampering with evidence in the death of 19-month-old Takota Hasty, the son of his girlfriend Crystal Laurel. Rybak will spend 18 years in prison, and agreed to waive the right to appeal his conviction, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office. He will be sentenced March 31.
Rybak was accused of using makeup to cover up bruises and burn marks on Takota, who suffered the injuries while in the care of Rybak and Laurel.
Investigators were notified of the incident after Takota arrived at Dayton Children’s Hospital. He had no pulse and was not breathing and suffered numerous bruises, abrasions and burn marks, prosecutors said. He was placed on life support but had no brain activity; he was removed from life support and died the next afternoon of blunt force trauma, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.
“This toddler was abused, beaten and burned to the point that his injuries proved fatal,” Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. stated in a release.
Laurel previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, child endangering, tampering with evidence and permitting child abuse, but has not yet been sentenced.