ANDERSON—Dylan Tate will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend's 18-month-old son.
A sentence of life without the possibility of parole plus 52 years was handed down by a Madison County judge in Anderson, Tuesday.
In June, a Madison County jury convicted Tate of murder, neglect, child molestation and drunk driving.
Little Harlan Haines died early last year after being in a car crash with Tate, who told police he was trying to get Harlan to the hospital because he had stopped breathing. In the accident, Tate's car hit a utility pole.
But in court documents, doctors said the child's death was not the result of the crash. The documents describe how doctors found paper towels stuffed down the toddler's windpipe. Those injuries were severe and included multiple bruises, cuts and other injuries. The coroner's report described graphic injuries to Haines' neck, chest and private areas.
Harlan's mother, Jennifer Harris, is also facing charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Her trial is scheduled for late this year.
