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Atchison woman sentenced on charges in fatal crash

By Greg Bebermeyer

06/26/2025

Maria Papalas/Credit:Atchison Co Sheriff's Office

(KAIR)---An Atchison woman convicted on charges in connection with Atchison County crash last August that claimed the life of her 17-month-old son has been sentenced to 25 years and one month in prison.

According to court documents, 29-year-old Maria Papalas was handed the sentence Tuesday in Atchison County District Court on charges of second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated endangering a child.

Following her release from prison, she will be required to register as an offender for 15 years.

Papalas pleaded no contest to the amended charges last month as part of a plea agreement, canceling a jury trial that had been set in the case.

She had originally been charged with first-degree murder.

Authorities say Papalas was attempting to flee from an Atchison County Sheriff's deputy when she crashed her vehicle on August 25, 2024. Her son, who was passenger in the vehicle, was killed in the crash.

Evidence showed the child was not properly restrained in a car seat at the time of the crash.

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