Dylan Castimore: South Dakota judge hands down 100-year sentence to suspect in 8-week-old son's murder

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SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA: Second Circuit Court Judge Camela Theeler handed down a 100-year sentence to Dylan Castimore, a Sioux Falls man, in connection with the 2021 death of his baby son.

Castimore, 24, received a sentence with 10 years suspended and credit for over two years served in jail after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter and child abuse, according to reports from the Argus Leader.

Dylan Castimore admits to snapping leading to his infant son's death

During the hearing, Castimore expressed remorse for his actions, apologizing to the judge and his son's family. He admitted to snapping on November 27, 2021, the day he fatally injured his eight-week-old son, Daxton. An autopsy revealed that the infant died from a skull fracture and a lacerated liver, among other injuries.

Castimore's apology, however, was met with skepticism from prosecutors, who argued that his actions following the incident were deliberate. “If this were a snap sort of situation, it’d be a few seconds and it’s over and I’m calling 911. But instead, he chose to take time to clean up the mess, and then call 911 and then give a fake story,” Minnehaha County Deputy State’s Attorney Jennifer Hynek highlighted.

Dylan Castimore's sentence and legal proceedings

Under the terms of his sentence, Castimore is prohibited from contacting his son’s mother, family, or any children under the age of 10. “No matter what my sentence, I still have to live with myself,” the suspect said in court.

He will receive credit for the two and a half years he has already served in jail. Initially facing murder and manslaughter charges, Castimore accepted a plea agreement, leading to his guilty plea on the lesser charges. He faced a potential sentence ranging from 65 years to life imprisonment.