Boy With Autism, 4, Fatally Drowned by Stepdad in Bathtub; Mom Claimed was ‘Accident’

A Montana man convicted of murdering his stepson was sentenced to 80 years in prison last week.

A jury convicted Kristopher Michael Harasymczuk, 40, of deliberate homicide back in March for the death of 4-year-old Jaxsynn Gatlin in 2021, choosing that over the lesser charge of negligent homicide.

Jaxsynn, who had autism, was drowned in a bathtub filled with scalding hot water by his stepfather, according to a copy of the information sheet filed in the case and obtained by PEOPLE.

The boy’s death was initially believed to have been an accident after his mother Lana Harasymczuk told the responding officers that her son had been alone in the bathroom and likely tripped on the night of his death, according to court documents.

Officers noted in court documents that they arrived on the scene to find Jaxsynn laying on the floor next to the tub and completely dry. Those officers also said the boy felt very warm to the touch.

Prosecutors said that Lana changed her story after the medical examiner performed an autopsy on the boy and found the cause of death to be hyperthermia and the manner to be homicide.

The medical examiner wrote in the autopsy report that Jaxsynn had a temperature of 102 degrees at the time of his death, while also noting that there was bruising throughout the boy’s face and body which was likely consistent with abuse.

Once presented with the medical examiner’s findings, Lana allegedly told police that her husband had been with Jaxsynn in the bathroom just before she found the boy unresponsive.

Lana also allegedly told police that Harasymczuk would often beat Jaxsynn and her 6-year-old son with a metal spatula, according to the information sheet.

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A representative from Child Protective Services also spoke with the victim’s father during the course of the investigation, who provided them with a photo of the “severe bruising” and “redness” he found on his older son’s body two days after the victim’s death. He claimed those injuries were the result of the boy being beaten by Harasymcuzk, according to an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

The biological father also alleged that Harasymczuk would discipline his sons with “spanking, wall sits, pushing and kicking them to the ground, and pushing them down in the bathtub.”

When police learned of this information they went in search of the metal spatula that Harasymcuzk allegedly used in these beatings, which they discovered had been broken and thrown away by the defendant, according to the information sheet.

Prosecutors decided to add charges of assault on a minor and tampering with physical evidence after learning about the biological father’s claims, and the jury convicted Harasymczuk on those counts as well back in March.

In addition to the 80-year sentence handed down by Yellowstone County District Court Judge Collette Davies last week, Harasymczuk  was also sentenced to 15 years for each of those additional charges.

Those three sentences will run concurrent.

Prosecutors also indicted Lana on the same day that her husband received his sentence.

Court records show she is facing three counts each of criminal child endangerment and tampering with evidence. She has yet to enter a plea to any of those charges.

Lawyers for both Lana and Harasymczuk did not respond to requests for comment.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.