Josh Summers

Perfectly healthy babies don't just suddenly collapse and die. And there's nothing wrong with that child. Something else is going on. I'm Scott Weinberger, investigative journalist and former deputy sheriff.

Perfectly healthy babies don't just suddenly collapse and die. And there's nothing wrong with that child. Something else is going on. I'm Scott Weinberger, investigative journalist and former deputy sheriff.

When you look at her behavior, this was a loving mother who had cared for her child, who had taken him in regularly to doctor's visits, who was very responsible and caring for this child.

When you look at her behavior, this was a loving mother who had cared for her child, who had taken him in regularly to doctor's visits, who was very responsible and caring for this child.

And when you construct this timeline, if you will, Nicole was only alone with Logan twice prior to Logan's death, within that 24 hours beforehand. She was alone with Logan when she took him over to Billy's home the evening of July the 3rd. And then she was alone with Logan for periods of time the morning of July 4th when she returned to Billy's to check on Logan.

And when you construct this timeline, if you will, Nicole was only alone with Logan twice prior to Logan's death, within that 24 hours beforehand. She was alone with Logan when she took him over to Billy's home the evening of July the 3rd. And then she was alone with Logan for periods of time the morning of July 4th when she returned to Billy's to check on Logan.

But nothing at all indicated that anything was wrong with Logan. In Billy's own statement, he said that Logan was healthy and acting normal when Nicole was there.

But nothing at all indicated that anything was wrong with Logan. In Billy's own statement, he said that Logan was healthy and acting normal when Nicole was there.

Moreover, Billy's mother said that although she did not see Logan, she could hear him laughing and giggling in the back of Billy's vehicle. And so that further went to show that this was a normal, happy, healthy baby.

Moreover, Billy's mother said that although she did not see Logan, she could hear him laughing and giggling in the back of Billy's vehicle. And so that further went to show that this was a normal, happy, healthy baby.

And you would not expect a child who had sustained these types of injuries to be laughing, giggling, taking a bottle, acting normally. You would expect the child who had sustained these types of injuries to be in some state of distress, to be unconscious, or obviously to have passed away.

And you would not expect a child who had sustained these types of injuries to be laughing, giggling, taking a bottle, acting normally. You would expect the child who had sustained these types of injuries to be in some state of distress, to be unconscious, or obviously to have passed away.

It was important to show that Logan was healthy and acting normal, according to everyone who had been around that child. And in fact, the only time he wasn't acting normal, the only time he wasn't healthy, was when he was in the sole care, custody, and control of Billy Palaszczuk.

It was important to show that Logan was healthy and acting normal, according to everyone who had been around that child. And in fact, the only time he wasn't acting normal, the only time he wasn't healthy, was when he was in the sole care, custody, and control of Billy Palaszczuk.

You kind of had two crime scenes. You had Billy's trailer home, and then secondly, you had this makeshift garage. So this garage had a lot of kind of random things stored in it. There was a refrigerator, there was a jet ski, and obviously there was this horse trough where Billy claimed he was going to bathe Logan.

You kind of had two crime scenes. You had Billy's trailer home, and then secondly, you had this makeshift garage. So this garage had a lot of kind of random things stored in it. There was a refrigerator, there was a jet ski, and obviously there was this horse trough where Billy claimed he was going to bathe Logan.

That trough looked like it had been like planted there because one of the things that was important, there was a leaf inside of the trough where he was going to bathe Logan. And that leaf matched up with like a leaf on a tree outside. So we always thought that that trough had been outside and he put it back in that. He moved it into the detached garage to kind of stage a crime scene, if you will.

That trough looked like it had been like planted there because one of the things that was important, there was a leaf inside of the trough where he was going to bathe Logan. And that leaf matched up with like a leaf on a tree outside. So we always thought that that trough had been outside and he put it back in that. He moved it into the detached garage to kind of stage a crime scene, if you will.

According to Billy's story, he had stepped about 20 feet away for a minute or two to go get some shampoo to bathe Logan. He heard a thump splash and ran over to see what was the matter. Well, what was interesting is there was a bottle of shampoo neatly placed to the left. And I guess two things stood out to us in examining Logan.

According to Billy's story, he had stepped about 20 feet away for a minute or two to go get some shampoo to bathe Logan. He heard a thump splash and ran over to see what was the matter. Well, what was interesting is there was a bottle of shampoo neatly placed to the left. And I guess two things stood out to us in examining Logan.

the crime scene photographs are that the location of that bottle is not really where someone would have said it if they were running over to check on a child that they thought had fallen down. But secondly, it was just neatly placed there and you wouldn't expect a bottle like that to be neatly placed if you think a child is seriously hurt and has fallen down in a bathtub.

the crime scene photographs are that the location of that bottle is not really where someone would have said it if they were running over to check on a child that they thought had fallen down. But secondly, it was just neatly placed there and you wouldn't expect a bottle like that to be neatly placed if you think a child is seriously hurt and has fallen down in a bathtub.

So I always tell people I have the best job in the entire world because I get to travel all over the great state of Texas and prosecute some of the worst offenders. You know, my job is to see that justice is done in these cases.

So I always tell people I have the best job in the entire world because I get to travel all over the great state of Texas and prosecute some of the worst offenders. You know, my job is to see that justice is done in these cases.

The Fayette County Sheriff's Office taped off that area using yellow crime scene tape. They told Billy not to go into that area, but it's a smaller jurisdiction. It's a rural county. That area was left unattended.

The Fayette County Sheriff's Office taped off that area using yellow crime scene tape. They told Billy not to go into that area, but it's a smaller jurisdiction. It's a rural county. That area was left unattended.

One of the things that stood out, though, they took photographs before and after taping off that area when they returned. And when you compared the photographs, there were things that had been moved around. So it looked like Billy Palaszczuk had not only staged the crime scene, but later tampered with that area to further stage it, if you will.

One of the things that stood out, though, they took photographs before and after taping off that area when they returned. And when you compared the photographs, there were things that had been moved around. So it looked like Billy Palaszczuk had not only staged the crime scene, but later tampered with that area to further stage it, if you will.

So when they go into the mobile home, that's when the net starts to close in on Billy, if you will. So at this point, the Texas Rangers had become involved and the Texas Ranger assigned to the case got a warrant to go inside of the home. Within that home, there was a mattress and a pillow of importance. Texas Rangers are very experienced law enforcement officers.

So when they go into the mobile home, that's when the net starts to close in on Billy, if you will. So at this point, the Texas Rangers had become involved and the Texas Ranger assigned to the case got a warrant to go inside of the home. Within that home, there was a mattress and a pillow of importance. Texas Rangers are very experienced law enforcement officers.

They are considered the best in the state of Texas. And the Ranger observed what to him, based on all of his training experience and background as a peace officer, was apparent blood on the mattress and apparent blood on the pillowcase covering the pillow on Billy's bed in that mobile home.

They are considered the best in the state of Texas. And the Ranger observed what to him, based on all of his training experience and background as a peace officer, was apparent blood on the mattress and apparent blood on the pillowcase covering the pillow on Billy's bed in that mobile home.

First, there is an initial process called serology testing. And in serology testing, they're able to do a presumptive test for the presence of blood. And in this situation, they confirmed that what the ranger saw was in fact blood.

First, there is an initial process called serology testing. And in serology testing, they're able to do a presumptive test for the presence of blood. And in this situation, they confirmed that what the ranger saw was in fact blood.

From there, it is then sent off for DNA testing. And through DNA testing, they are able to establish that the DNA profile from the blood on the mattress and the blood on the pillowcase was consistent with Logan's DNA.

From there, it is then sent off for DNA testing. And through DNA testing, they are able to establish that the DNA profile from the blood on the mattress and the blood on the pillowcase was consistent with Logan's DNA.

When you talk about baby death cases, no one likes to think that an adult, that someone is capable of murdering a baby. But the sad reality of the world we live in, these things happen.

When you talk about baby death cases, no one likes to think that an adult, that someone is capable of murdering a baby. But the sad reality of the world we live in, these things happen.

Nicole had left Logan wearing a onesie and that onesie was never found. And so to me, as you start putting these missing things together, it indicated that Billy Palaszczuk had probably disposed of evidence in some way.

Nicole had left Logan wearing a onesie and that onesie was never found. And so to me, as you start putting these missing things together, it indicated that Billy Palaszczuk had probably disposed of evidence in some way.

And one of the important things that happened in this case is after law enforcement had been out there initially, Billy Palaszczuk was able to go back home, and a neighbor observed that he was burning trash. Now, in small-town Texas and rural Texas, people oftentimes burn trash. It happens regularly. But obviously, it's unusual in a situation like this where... A baby has just died.

And one of the important things that happened in this case is after law enforcement had been out there initially, Billy Palaszczuk was able to go back home, and a neighbor observed that he was burning trash. Now, in small-town Texas and rural Texas, people oftentimes burn trash. It happens regularly. But obviously, it's unusual in a situation like this where... A baby has just died.

And now you have the individual who is caring for that child burning trash. I mean, something like that is going to raise a red flag for anyone.

And now you have the individual who is caring for that child burning trash. I mean, something like that is going to raise a red flag for anyone.

Any adult that was alone with a child that died, you wouldn't expect him or her to go about their normal day and just start, you know, taking the trash out or in this situation burning trash. You just wouldn't expect that type of behavior.

Any adult that was alone with a child that died, you wouldn't expect him or her to go about their normal day and just start, you know, taking the trash out or in this situation burning trash. You just wouldn't expect that type of behavior.

And there are a lot of missing things. They never find the onesie that Logan was in. They never find his diaper. And there was a bottle cap found in Billy's trailer home, but they never found the bottle. So we think he burned all this stuff.

And there are a lot of missing things. They never find the onesie that Logan was in. They never find his diaper. And there was a bottle cap found in Billy's trailer home, but they never found the bottle. So we think he burned all this stuff.

We have a baby who's passed away. We have very suspicious behavior after the fact, burning trash. We have DNA evidence, these catastrophic injuries, a story that doesn't make sense. And as you start putting all these pieces together, everything ultimately points directly to Billy Palaszczuk.

We have a baby who's passed away. We have very suspicious behavior after the fact, burning trash. We have DNA evidence, these catastrophic injuries, a story that doesn't make sense. And as you start putting all these pieces together, everything ultimately points directly to Billy Palaszczuk.

No one wants to rush to an arrest and heaven forbid, one of the worst things that can happen is someone is wrongfully accused. When we indict or charge someone with a crime like this, we wanna make sure Everyone's been interviewed. All of the medical evidence has been reviewed. All of the forensic testing has been done or been submitted to be tested.

No one wants to rush to an arrest and heaven forbid, one of the worst things that can happen is someone is wrongfully accused. When we indict or charge someone with a crime like this, we wanna make sure Everyone's been interviewed. All of the medical evidence has been reviewed. All of the forensic testing has been done or been submitted to be tested.

You want to make sure everything's been done so that you are confident that you have charged the right suspect and certainly as a prosecutor that you are prosecuting the individual that committed this crime.

You want to make sure everything's been done so that you are confident that you have charged the right suspect and certainly as a prosecutor that you are prosecuting the individual that committed this crime.

You know, I always tell people when you talk about being a prosecutor, I tell families and crime victims, I can't change what has happened, but what I can do is make sure that the right thing happens now. So when I step into a case and meet with a family that's lost a loved one, it's really my job to be a strong person and to shepherd them through what may be the darkest time in their lives.

You know, I always tell people when you talk about being a prosecutor, I tell families and crime victims, I can't change what has happened, but what I can do is make sure that the right thing happens now. So when I step into a case and meet with a family that's lost a loved one, it's really my job to be a strong person and to shepherd them through what may be the darkest time in their lives.

You know, when someone is charged with a crime, the case doesn't automatically go to trial. That person will appear in court for what we call a docket call, maybe about once a month or thereabouts. At one of the docket calls in court, Billy Ploschek, he was in custody and he actually attempted to escape.

You know, when someone is charged with a crime, the case doesn't automatically go to trial. That person will appear in court for what we call a docket call, maybe about once a month or thereabouts. At one of the docket calls in court, Billy Ploschek, he was in custody and he actually attempted to escape.

He broke a window in the courtroom and the local county attorney and the assistant county attorney were witnesses to this attempted escape.

He broke a window in the courtroom and the local county attorney and the assistant county attorney were witnesses to this attempted escape.

For purposes of capital murder, if you intentionally or knowingly caused the death of a child, that is a capital murder. Obviously, we have to prove this was not an accident, that it was a criminal act. And when I meet with these families, I always tell them two things. I say, look, be patient with the process. These cases can take a long time.

For purposes of capital murder, if you intentionally or knowingly caused the death of a child, that is a capital murder. Obviously, we have to prove this was not an accident, that it was a criminal act. And when I meet with these families, I always tell them two things. I say, look, be patient with the process. These cases can take a long time.

And secondly, trust me to do the right thing, because every decision that I make on a case is geared toward seeing that your loved one receives the justice that he or she deserves.

And secondly, trust me to do the right thing, because every decision that I make on a case is geared toward seeing that your loved one receives the justice that he or she deserves.

I think our biggest hurdle was, I guess, really two things. Being able to put all of this information together in a cohesive way for a jury. Because it is very complicated. And so I think one of the first challenges we have is... Helping a jury understand all of this medical evidence, being able to convey to them the timeline and why that's so critical in a case like this.

I think our biggest hurdle was, I guess, really two things. Being able to put all of this information together in a cohesive way for a jury. Because it is very complicated. And so I think one of the first challenges we have is... Helping a jury understand all of this medical evidence, being able to convey to them the timeline and why that's so critical in a case like this.

And I would also say another key challenge we faced is we had to be able to eliminate mom or prove to the jury that mom didn't do this, that it had to have been Billy Palaszczuk.

And I would also say another key challenge we faced is we had to be able to eliminate mom or prove to the jury that mom didn't do this, that it had to have been Billy Palaszczuk.

Child abuse cases are inherently circumstantial. And we can never say exactly how that child was struck. We can never say how many times, what type of blunt force instrument was used to cause those injuries. All we're ever really able to say is that this child sustained these blunt force injuries and that these injuries were caused by inflicted or non-accidental trauma.

Child abuse cases are inherently circumstantial. And we can never say exactly how that child was struck. We can never say how many times, what type of blunt force instrument was used to cause those injuries. All we're ever really able to say is that this child sustained these blunt force injuries and that these injuries were caused by inflicted or non-accidental trauma.

What we believe happened to Logan was that at some point that morning, after Billy had taken Logan to his mom's, when he was alone with Logan for about 30 minutes or so, for whatever reason, maybe he got upset with the child, maybe he was mad about something else, but for some reason, whatever that may be,

What we believe happened to Logan was that at some point that morning, after Billy had taken Logan to his mom's, when he was alone with Logan for about 30 minutes or so, for whatever reason, maybe he got upset with the child, maybe he was mad about something else, but for some reason, whatever that may be,

Billy did the worst thing anyone can imagine and inflicted blunt force trauma, struck that child repeatedly again and again and again, and caused all those contusions, fractured a skull, and caused those injuries to Logan's brain, and that the combination of those things obviously led to his death.

Billy did the worst thing anyone can imagine and inflicted blunt force trauma, struck that child repeatedly again and again and again, and caused all those contusions, fractured a skull, and caused those injuries to Logan's brain, and that the combination of those things obviously led to his death.

Logan Atkins was a beautiful baby, just a gorgeous little boy, and was just one of those children that, you know, when you see his picture, you could just tell this child was very full of life and full of love.

Logan Atkins was a beautiful baby, just a gorgeous little boy, and was just one of those children that, you know, when you see his picture, you could just tell this child was very full of life and full of love.

Billy must have been angry for some reason, whether at Logan or at something else, took that anger out on Logan, caused those catastrophic injuries in that moment of anger. And then realized what he had done, tried to cover up the crime scene, called Nicole, tried to take Logan to the hospital. But none of those things excuse his intent or what have you to harm this child.

Billy must have been angry for some reason, whether at Logan or at something else, took that anger out on Logan, caused those catastrophic injuries in that moment of anger. And then realized what he had done, tried to cover up the crime scene, called Nicole, tried to take Logan to the hospital. But none of those things excuse his intent or what have you to harm this child.

He doesn't get a free pass just because he lost his temper, realized what he had done, and then tried to take the child to the hospital. He's still legally responsible for what he did, for his actions.

He doesn't get a free pass just because he lost his temper, realized what he had done, and then tried to take the child to the hospital. He's still legally responsible for what he did, for his actions.

So the defense in this case was that Logan had suffered these injuries sometime prior, either through several accidental falls or that his mother, Nicole, had inflicted these injuries.

So the defense in this case was that Logan had suffered these injuries sometime prior, either through several accidental falls or that his mother, Nicole, had inflicted these injuries.

But it was also important to show that in June, just a month prior to his death, he had been in for a wellness visit. He was a healthy, normal baby, and there were no parental concerns. In other words, there was nothing to indicate that his mother, Nicole, had been neglecting him or abusing him in any way.

But it was also important to show that in June, just a month prior to his death, he had been in for a wellness visit. He was a healthy, normal baby, and there were no parental concerns. In other words, there was nothing to indicate that his mother, Nicole, had been neglecting him or abusing him in any way.

In layman's terms, a lucid interval would be where a child suffers catastrophic injuries like the one Logan has, but doesn't present, doesn't become symptomatic until sometime later. And so one of the defensive theories advanced was that these injuries had been inflicted sometime prior to that child being alone with Billy. that he was experiencing a lucid interval.

In layman's terms, a lucid interval would be where a child suffers catastrophic injuries like the one Logan has, but doesn't present, doesn't become symptomatic until sometime later. And so one of the defensive theories advanced was that these injuries had been inflicted sometime prior to that child being alone with Billy. that he was experiencing a lucid interval.

In other words, he was acting normally and then became symptomatic, presented when he was alone with Billy after Nicole had left the morning that he passed away.

In other words, he was acting normally and then became symptomatic, presented when he was alone with Billy after Nicole had left the morning that he passed away.

So this is a medical concept. It can happen. But in this case, there was no evidence to indicate that Logan was having a lucid interval, in large part because there was nothing to indicate that Nicole had done anything to hurt this child.

So this is a medical concept. It can happen. But in this case, there was no evidence to indicate that Logan was having a lucid interval, in large part because there was nothing to indicate that Nicole had done anything to hurt this child.

So there were different theories advanced by the defense in this case. One of them that, you know, Logan fell off a counter while his mom was changing his diaper. Another that he hurt himself playing at the swimming pool. But ultimately, there was never really any evidence or testimony to support any of those theories. They were just purely speculation and conjecture.

So there were different theories advanced by the defense in this case. One of them that, you know, Logan fell off a counter while his mom was changing his diaper. Another that he hurt himself playing at the swimming pool. But ultimately, there was never really any evidence or testimony to support any of those theories. They were just purely speculation and conjecture.

Billy would regularly spend time with Logan. Billy was someone that Nicole would trust to watch her child. He was almost like a second father to Logan, very much a godfather type figure.

Billy would regularly spend time with Logan. Billy was someone that Nicole would trust to watch her child. He was almost like a second father to Logan, very much a godfather type figure.

That's one of the things that I have to do as a prosecutor is that, you know, things may be... stated in front of a jury in opening statement or alluded to in questioning by defense counsel. And then it kind of becomes one of my jobs to eliminate those possibilities.

That's one of the things that I have to do as a prosecutor is that, you know, things may be... stated in front of a jury in opening statement or alluded to in questioning by defense counsel. And then it kind of becomes one of my jobs to eliminate those possibilities.

Nicole and very credibly so denied ever witnessing Logan have any type of fall or accident that would have caused the types of injuries that led to his death. So all of these allegations, it was just conjecture and speculation. There was never anything to support this idea that he had sustained some severe fall from a changing station. or playing at the swimming pool.

Nicole and very credibly so denied ever witnessing Logan have any type of fall or accident that would have caused the types of injuries that led to his death. So all of these allegations, it was just conjecture and speculation. There was never anything to support this idea that he had sustained some severe fall from a changing station. or playing at the swimming pool.

There was nothing ever to support that.

There was nothing ever to support that.

Losing a child, any child, but particularly an infant, that is the worst loss that any parent can suffer. And it's something that clearly affected Nicole and clearly stayed with her. You know, one of the things that juries do when we all get caught up in legal semantics and things like that. But ultimately what a jury does is they evaluate people's credibility.

Losing a child, any child, but particularly an infant, that is the worst loss that any parent can suffer. And it's something that clearly affected Nicole and clearly stayed with her. You know, one of the things that juries do when we all get caught up in legal semantics and things like that. But ultimately what a jury does is they evaluate people's credibility.

They get to decide whether they believe all, none, or some of what a witness has to say. And I think in this case that Nicole testified very credibly, and I believe the jury believed everything that she had to say.

They get to decide whether they believe all, none, or some of what a witness has to say. And I think in this case that Nicole testified very credibly, and I believe the jury believed everything that she had to say.

I think in a case like this, it's so important not to view any one piece of evidence in isolation. But when you look at the totality of the circumstances, when you look at everything together, not just the injuries, but the DNA evidence, the blood evidence,

I think in a case like this, it's so important not to view any one piece of evidence in isolation. But when you look at the totality of the circumstances, when you look at everything together, not just the injuries, but the DNA evidence, the blood evidence,

associated with Logan that was inside of Billy's trailer, when you look at the staged crime scene, the crime scene that had also been tampered with, the burning of trash that happened after law enforcement was called out, when you look at all of these surrounding facts and circumstances, in my mind, it unequivocally established that Billy Palaszczuk murdered Logan Atkins.

associated with Logan that was inside of Billy's trailer, when you look at the staged crime scene, the crime scene that had also been tampered with, the burning of trash that happened after law enforcement was called out, when you look at all of these surrounding facts and circumstances, in my mind, it unequivocally established that Billy Palaszczuk murdered Logan Atkins.

The jury found Billy Ploschek guilty of murder.

The jury found Billy Ploschek guilty of murder.

One of the really important things that the jury heard about in this case was that at one point, Billy Ploschek was on bond for this case. And while on bond, he was with his own daughter at a state park in Texas, Bastrop State Park. And the police were called out because Billy was high on synthetic marijuana. And his behavior, his conduct was captured on video.

One of the really important things that the jury heard about in this case was that at one point, Billy Ploschek was on bond for this case. And while on bond, he was with his own daughter at a state park in Texas, Bastrop State Park. And the police were called out because Billy was high on synthetic marijuana. And his behavior, his conduct was captured on video.

And it was very shocking, very unsettling. He seems incredibly angry. unwell. He's clearly under the influence of drugs. And as a result of that incident, he was charged with endangering a child. And the jury heard evidence of that. And I think in large part, that aided them in their decision to sentence Billy Palaszczuk to life in prison.

And it was very shocking, very unsettling. He seems incredibly angry. unwell. He's clearly under the influence of drugs. And as a result of that incident, he was charged with endangering a child. And the jury heard evidence of that. And I think in large part, that aided them in their decision to sentence Billy Palaszczuk to life in prison.

That evening, his mother, Nicole, brought Logan over to Billy Palaszczuk's home, and she left him alone with Billy that evening.

That evening, his mother, Nicole, brought Logan over to Billy Palaszczuk's home, and she left him alone with Billy that evening.

He is a dangerous, dangerous person with respect to children and should never, ever be around a child again.

He is a dangerous, dangerous person with respect to children and should never, ever be around a child again.

You know, as a prosecutor, sometimes you see photos that you can't unsee. And to me, you know, the photos I saw in this case of Logan at the medical examiner's office, those are photos that I will never forget and I will never be able to unsee those.

You know, as a prosecutor, sometimes you see photos that you can't unsee. And to me, you know, the photos I saw in this case of Logan at the medical examiner's office, those are photos that I will never forget and I will never be able to unsee those.

And I can't erase that from my mind, but I can take some degree of comfort in knowing that Billy Palaszczuk will never be able to hurt another child again.

And I can't erase that from my mind, but I can take some degree of comfort in knowing that Billy Palaszczuk will never be able to hurt another child again.

Billy lived in a trailer home kind of behind, I guess, a regular house, you would say. And the three of them were together in the trailer kind of on and off. You know, Billy was coming and going, but Nicole was spending time with Logan and he was kind of napping and playing with her and that sort of thing.

Billy lived in a trailer home kind of behind, I guess, a regular house, you would say. And the three of them were together in the trailer kind of on and off. You know, Billy was coming and going, but Nicole was spending time with Logan and he was kind of napping and playing with her and that sort of thing.

She was there for about two hours the morning of July 4th. And by all accounts, according to Billy later and according to Nicole, Logan was acting normal. He was fine. He was happy. He was healthy.

She was there for about two hours the morning of July 4th. And by all accounts, according to Billy later and according to Nicole, Logan was acting normal. He was fine. He was happy. He was healthy.

His mother would later tell police that she didn't see Logan in the back of Billy's vehicle, but she could hear him laughing and giggling and saw Billy turn around to pay attention to the child. And all of this is important because by all accounts, Logan was healthy and acting normally, doing the normal things you would expect a seven-month-old baby to do.

His mother would later tell police that she didn't see Logan in the back of Billy's vehicle, but she could hear him laughing and giggling and saw Billy turn around to pay attention to the child. And all of this is important because by all accounts, Logan was healthy and acting normally, doing the normal things you would expect a seven-month-old baby to do.

Logan had been alone with Billy for approximately half an hour. At 11.05 a.m. that morning of July 4th, 2016, Billy called Nicole, Logan's mom, and said Logan wasn't breathing, wasn't responding. He was in a panic.

Logan had been alone with Billy for approximately half an hour. At 11.05 a.m. that morning of July 4th, 2016, Billy called Nicole, Logan's mom, and said Logan wasn't breathing, wasn't responding. He was in a panic.

About eight minutes later, as Nicole is frantically making her way to Billy's home, she calls 911.

About eight minutes later, as Nicole is frantically making her way to Billy's home, she calls 911.

Billy, contemporaneous to her going to his home, is trying to get Logan to a hospital. They pass each other on a highway and eventually it just happened to be that a DPS trooper was in that area, pulls them over for speeding.

Billy, contemporaneous to her going to his home, is trying to get Logan to a hospital. They pass each other on a highway and eventually it just happened to be that a DPS trooper was in that area, pulls them over for speeding.

And Billy takes Logan out of his truck, runs frantically over to the state trooper who attempts to resuscitate the child and begins performing CPR on that child.

And Billy takes Logan out of his truck, runs frantically over to the state trooper who attempts to resuscitate the child and begins performing CPR on that child.

The trooper did what he could do given the circumstances. He kept his composure and he did everything you would want a member of law enforcement to do. He took that child and immediately began performing CPR on that child and continued to do so until EMS arrived on scene.

The trooper did what he could do given the circumstances. He kept his composure and he did everything you would want a member of law enforcement to do. He took that child and immediately began performing CPR on that child and continued to do so until EMS arrived on scene.

First, he is spoken to by a member of the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, and later he's spoken to by a Texas Ranger. And when he's interviewed, he tells law enforcement that he was going to give Logan a bath.

First, he is spoken to by a member of the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, and later he's spoken to by a Texas Ranger. And when he's interviewed, he tells law enforcement that he was going to give Logan a bath.

Billy tells the Texas Ranger that he was going to give Logan a bath and that he put Logan in a horse trough that was, I guess, serving as a makeshift bathtub.

Billy tells the Texas Ranger that he was going to give Logan a bath and that he put Logan in a horse trough that was, I guess, serving as a makeshift bathtub.

He walked about 20 feet away to get some tear-free shampoo, heard a splash, returned to the horse trough, and saw Logan unresponsive laying on his side.

He walked about 20 feet away to get some tear-free shampoo, heard a splash, returned to the horse trough, and saw Logan unresponsive laying on his side.

Logan was not dressed, but he was completely dry. His skin was dry, his hair was dry, and so that's kind of out of the gate. Things in Billy's story don't start matching up with the evidence. It didn't make any sense that a perfectly normal, happy, healthy infant would just suddenly collapse in a bathtub and die. That didn't make any sense.

Logan was not dressed, but he was completely dry. His skin was dry, his hair was dry, and so that's kind of out of the gate. Things in Billy's story don't start matching up with the evidence. It didn't make any sense that a perfectly normal, happy, healthy infant would just suddenly collapse in a bathtub and die. That didn't make any sense.

There was bruising kind of throughout or all over his head. So you didn't have one focal point of bruising. You had bruising in different places. which would indicate that he was struck several times, which would cut against Billy's story that the child had simply fallen in a bathtub. That didn't make any sense because you wouldn't have multiple impact sites from just one fall.

There was bruising kind of throughout or all over his head. So you didn't have one focal point of bruising. You had bruising in different places. which would indicate that he was struck several times, which would cut against Billy's story that the child had simply fallen in a bathtub. That didn't make any sense because you wouldn't have multiple impact sites from just one fall.

And in the course of that autopsy, the medical examiner observes contusions to the head, observes that Logan has suffered a skull fracture, and observes hemorrhages to the brain.

And in the course of that autopsy, the medical examiner observes contusions to the head, observes that Logan has suffered a skull fracture, and observes hemorrhages to the brain.

When you have hemorrhages to the brain in an infant, there are a limited number of mechanisms that can cause those types of things. A fall from a great height, a high-speed motor vehicle collision, or what we call inflicted trauma or non-accidental trauma, which is simply trauma. fancy words for child abuse.

When you have hemorrhages to the brain in an infant, there are a limited number of mechanisms that can cause those types of things. A fall from a great height, a high-speed motor vehicle collision, or what we call inflicted trauma or non-accidental trauma, which is simply trauma. fancy words for child abuse.

And so obviously there was nothing to indicate Logan had fallen from a great height or was in a car crash. And when you start eliminating those other possibilities, you're really left with only one conclusion.

And so obviously there was nothing to indicate Logan had fallen from a great height or was in a car crash. And when you start eliminating those other possibilities, you're really left with only one conclusion.

it becomes more and more apparent that this isn't just a household accident, that this is a homicide.

it becomes more and more apparent that this isn't just a household accident, that this is a homicide.

Children, you know, they bump their heads, they fall down, and that happens. And normally a child, you would expect them to cry for a little bit, but then they're okay. And for injuries like this to be sustained by a child, a certain amount of force is required.

Children, you know, they bump their heads, they fall down, and that happens. And normally a child, you would expect them to cry for a little bit, but then they're okay. And for injuries like this to be sustained by a child, a certain amount of force is required.

And the type of force that would result from a bathtub fall, it's just it wouldn't cause the degree, the severity of injuries that Logan had. Only inflicted trauma could do that.

And the type of force that would result from a bathtub fall, it's just it wouldn't cause the degree, the severity of injuries that Logan had. Only inflicted trauma could do that.

One of the challenges is determining whether the adult caretaker that was alone with the child inflicted the injuries or whether or not someone else inflicted those injuries. And that child was having what medical professionals might call a lucid interval.

One of the challenges is determining whether the adult caretaker that was alone with the child inflicted the injuries or whether or not someone else inflicted those injuries. And that child was having what medical professionals might call a lucid interval.

In other words, whether the child had been hurt sometime prior to being alone with Billy Palaszczuk, but didn't become symptomatic until he was alone with Billy Palaszczuk.

In other words, whether the child had been hurt sometime prior to being alone with Billy Palaszczuk, but didn't become symptomatic until he was alone with Billy Palaszczuk.

And so when you talk about the types of injuries that Logan sustained, they could have been inflicted within 24 hours. They could have been inflicted within an hour. And so you've got to look at all of the conduct and behavior and circumstances of other potential suspects.

And so when you talk about the types of injuries that Logan sustained, they could have been inflicted within 24 hours. They could have been inflicted within an hour. And so you've got to look at all of the conduct and behavior and circumstances of other potential suspects.

Of all the cases I prosecute, baby death cases are the ones that affect me the most. I have a two-year-old. I have a child. And, you know, when you look at autopsy photos of an infant, it's just a lot harder than it is to look at autopsy photos of an adult.

Of all the cases I prosecute, baby death cases are the ones that affect me the most. I have a two-year-old. I have a child. And, you know, when you look at autopsy photos of an infant, it's just a lot harder than it is to look at autopsy photos of an adult.

So in this particular case, it was very, very, very important to rule out the possibility that Logan's mom, Nicole, could have done this.

So in this particular case, it was very, very, very important to rule out the possibility that Logan's mom, Nicole, could have done this.