Indy man sentenced to 20 years in toddler's death
An Indianapolis man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday for his involvement in the 2014 death of his girlfriend's toddler.
Frank Larkins, 28, was handed a 34-year total sentence, 20 years of which will be spent in the Department of Corrections, with an additional eight years on work release and two years on probation, according to court records. Six years of the sentence have been suspended.
In August, a jury found him guilty of aggravated battery, battery and two counts of neglect in the death of 20-month-old Elijah Polk.
Prosecutors say Larkins struck the child on or before Oct. 27, 2014, leaving him with "fatal blunt force trauma" to the abdomen.
The child died in a home in the 2700 block of Barbary Lane two days later.
Polk's mother, 21-year-old Diamond Miller, was sentenced last month to 15 years in prison after prosecutors said she neglected to seek medical attention for the child, even though he became ill in the days after he was abused and was heard moaning in his sleep hours before he died.
She searched for her son's symptoms online, according to court documents, but never called a doctor, despite having the doctor's number saved to her phone.
IndyStar reporters Bill McCleery and Vic Ryckaert contributed to this story.
Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at (317) 444-6156. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.
Mom gets 15 years for neglect in child's death