MOUNT VERNON — A Howard man was sentenced March 9 to 19 years in prison for his role in the 2022 death of a 22-month-old child.
Danial L. Shahan, 29, pleaded guilty Feb. 2 in the Knox County Court of Common Pleas to one count of voluntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony; and one count of endangering children, a second-degree felony.
He confessed in court to beating his girlfriend’s daughter, while intoxicated, at his Howard residence early in the morning of Jan. 31, 2022, according to Knox County Assistant Prosecutor Christine Williams. He also confessed to waiting roughly 12 hours to take the child to the hospital.
The child, Emily Pruitt, died three days later at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus after being declared brain-dead.
Shahan received the sentence recommended by both the Knox County Prosecutor’s Office and the Knox County Public Defender’s Office. Judge Richard Wetzel sentenced him to 11 years on the voluntary manslaughter charge and eight years on the endangering children charge.
Shahan will serve all 19 years, as he has waived his right to appeal his conviction.
Shahan’s girlfriend has also been charged for her alleged role in Pruitt’s death. Savannah C. Masters, 25, of Howard, has been charged with one count of permitting child abuse, a first-degree felony.
She is accused of being present the night of the incident and the next day, and faces three to 16 1/2 years in prison if convicted, according to Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville.
Masters is scheduled to appear in court and plead guilty April 6 at 9 a.m., according to recent court filings.
Williams, who led the state’s case against Shahan, told Knox Pages in February this was “probably the worst case I’ve ever handled in 27 years as a prosecutor,” given the seriousness of the crime.
She had to hold back tears last Thursday when speaking in court on behalf of Pruitt and those who loved her.
“I stand here today in the front of the courtroom, with a gallery behind me that is mostly empty,” Williams told Wetzel, in her final remarks before he announced Shahan’s sentence.
Pruitt’s grandfather, who offered testimony at the Feb. 2 plea hearing, was the only family member in attendance. He was accompanied in court by two detectives and a victim’s advocate.
“I just find it so tragic, that the two people on this earth who should be here to protect her are charged with her death. …” Williams said. “I find it utterly repulsive.”
Williams recounted the events leading up to Pruitt’s death and underscored Shahan’s role in the incident. She said that based on autopsy results, “he did not just hit her.”
“He beat her up. … He beat her to death. …” Williams said. “He hit her so hard that her brain shifted from one side to the next.”
Williams detailed the hours after Shahan struck Pruitt, when he and Masters “went on with their day in Mount Vernon, probably driving past the Urgent Care several times but never stopping,” despite the fact that Pruitt was already showing signs that her system was shutting down.
“They did everything but give Emily care,” Williams said.
Shahan called into last Thursday’s hearing from the Knox County Jail, appearing via livestream alongside his attorney, Knox County Public Defender John Dankovich.
Williams turned to the camera at one point during her testimony and asked Shahan directly, “What did a one-year-old do that made you beat her to death? What was it about her personality that made you beat her to a pulp?”
Williams asked Wetzel to give him 19 years in prison, “so he’ll have plenty of time to think about that question.”
Dankovich spoke during last Thursday’s sentencing hearing as well.
He said that, “to this point, Dan (Shahan) hasn’t wanted his side of the story out,” and that there had been “inaccuracies” in the way the state and news reports portrayed what occurred before, during and after the incident.
Dankovich said Shahan has “lived a hard life,” and that he has struggled with a learning disability. He said soon after Shahan met Masters, Masters began abusing him and his children.
“He’s been blamed for constant abuse. …” Dankovich said of Shahan. “But he wasn’t the one that was hitting the kids all the time.”
Dankovich described the night of the incident, saying Shahan had been drinking when he “whacked” Pruitt, causing her to fall off the couch.
He said Shahan encouraged Masters to take the child to the doctor the next day, but that she didn’t want to because Pruitt had just been for falling off a bunkbed.
Dankovich said Shahan called Pruitt’s grandparents, and they encouraged Masters to take her to the doctor, but the mother refused. When Masters did take Pruitt to the hospital that evening, Dankovich said she “went in and told a bunch of stories” about Shahan.
“She tried to blame him for everything,” Dankovich said.
Dankovich acknowledged the severity of the crime, saying the death of a child is “one of the worst things that can happen in life,” and said Shahan has taken responsibility for his actions and has shown remorse for them.
He said Shahan asked for the maximum prison sentence as allowed by the joint recommendation from both attorneys.
“Dan has not wanted this to be some sort of show about him, and he does not want people to put energy into blaming (Masters). He has wanted people to pour their energy into remembering Emily Pruitt. …” Dankovich said.
“He does know what he did was horrific, and he regrets it every day of his life.”
Shahan echoed this sentiment in a statement moments later.
“I just want forgiveness. I pray every day for forgiveness,” Shahan told the court. “I’m sorry for everything.”
