A Wisconsin Appeals Court has denied a claim that an Illinois man was wrongly convicted of killing a toddler and severely injuring a second child at a Fond du Lac apartment complex. The 2nd District Court of Appeals denied Daniel Griffin’s claim that it was the twin boys’ mother who killed one,and injured the other, not him. The 32 year old Griffin was sentenced in 2017 to 65 years in prison and 35 years of extended supervision after he was found guilty of reckless homicide and child abuse. The incident happened in July of 2015 at the Maplewood Commons apartments on Pioneer Road and Martin Avenue. Police say Griffin stood on top of both infants putting his full weight on them. The child’s mother, Airrealle Smart was sentenced to five years in prison followed by ten years of extended supervision. Smart entered what’s called an Alford plea to a charge of neglecting a child and neglecting a child causing death. Under the plea Smart is convicted of the crime but does not admit guilt.
