Dad gets life in beating death of 4-year-old son during visitation (Haywood County, North Carolina)

Sometimes these stories get past even us. When we initially posted on this story back in 2012, there was no mention of a mother or a step. So what was going on? It took a lot of searching, but according to this article (which unfortunately can't be pulled up in its entirely without a subscription), the little boy had been "visiting" Daddy and the step for a week. Whether the visitation was court-ordered or "voluntary" was not clarified. But then mothers are under enormous pressure to "facilitate" contact with biological fathers no matter how violent and abusive they are.

Dad is identified as MICHAEL SWAYNGIM, and is now on the Killer Dads and Custody list for North Carolina.
http://www.wlos.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/father-sentenced-life-beating-death-4yearold-son-20192.shtml#.VQ9hdtFFCbA


Father Sentenced to Life in Beating Death of 4-Year-Old Son
Updated: Friday, March 20 2015, 05:20 PM EDT

HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. -- A Waynesville father has pleaded guilty to a murder charge that stemmed from the beating death of his 4-year-old son.
Michael Swayngim's son Jake Russell died in August 2012. An autopsy showed he was beaten in the head.
At the time, Swayngim told deputies the child fell out of his bunk bed. Swayngim was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Julia, Swayngim's wife and the child's stepmother, has a court date next month in the case.
She is charged with accessory to murder after the fact, accessory to felony child abuse and aiding and abetting.