Maria Papalas, Atchinson, Kansas mom charged with murder and other charges after police chase leads to 17 month old son’s death after fleeing mom crashes car.
A Kansas mother has been charged with murder after a high speed police chase over the weekend led to her crashing her vehicle and killing her 17-month-old child.
Maria Papalas, 28, of Atchinson, crashed into a wall at about 5:30 p.m, Sunday afternoon, as the mom fled an Atchison County deputy pursuing her following a driving violation. The deputy followed the mom’s fleeing vehicle, until the mom went off the road, through a fence, crashing into trees, rolling over several times before coming to a stop.
Papalas was standing outside the automobile when the deputy arrived, and he saw her reach into the back seat and pull the 17 month old boy out of the window. As the deputy attempted to take the woman into custody, the woman hit and kicked the cop before the officer successfully managing to subdue the woman and tend to the injured child prior to medics arriving on the scene.
The boy, Mixalis Papalas-Schultz, was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City with life-threatening injuries. The boy died on Tuesday, KMBC reported.
The mother was also treated at hospital for injuries sustained according to Kansas Highway Patrol.
Papalas upon her arrest was booked with first-degree murder, fleeing a law enforcement officer, aggravated child endangerment, interference with law enforcement, battery on a law enforcement officer, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of marijuana, and reckless driving.
Papalas made her first court appearance Wednesday afternoon and is scheduled for a hearing on September 6, where she applied for a public defender. She remains held at an Atchinson County jail on a $500,000 bond.
