Babysitter taken into custody following tragic incident involving dogs and a 1-year-old boy, authorities report.
A Texas woman is under felony charges for reportedly leaving her 13-year-old daughter unsupervised with her aggressive dogs, which attacked and killed the 1-year-old boy in her care.
On Monday, an event took place in the San Antonio region. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar reported that 36-year-old Heather Rodriguez locked her 13-year-old daughter and the boy she was looking after, Jiryiah Johnson, in a bedroom to protect them from the dogs. The dogs managed to force their way through the door and began to attack Jiryiah.
“The little girl, the 13-year-old, was able to maintain control of the baby but at this point in what’s being described to be as it was almost a tug-of-war for the baby between at least one of the dogs and the little girl,” Salazar said at a press conference.
Salazar reported that the girl managed to lead the boy into a bathroom, but the dogs forced their way through the door and continued their assault. The girl managed to lock herself in another bedroom, where she was able to call for assistance. A boy sustained life-threatening injuries to his head and throat.
A boy was taken to the hospital by paramedics, but unfortunately, he passed away later on Monday. Salazar couldn’t believe that Rodriguez would leave her dogs unsupervised with her young daughter and son.
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Salazar pointed out that Rodriguez appeared to care more about the situation with the dogs than about owning up to her actions.
He referred to the 13-year-old girl who attempted to shield the baby as a hero for her efforts to fend off the dogs.
Complaints about the dogs had been made before. In April, a man contacted deputies expressing concern for his safety as a group of loose dogs surrounded his car, preventing him from exiting, according to Salazar. Rodriguez received a citation for allowing dogs to roam freely.
Following the vicious incident involving Jiryiah, Salazar has requested the euthanasia of all dogs that participated in the attack. He stated that the decision will ultimately rest with animal control.
Authorities first took Rodriguez into custody for failing to prevent serious harm to a child. On Tuesday, new charges were brought forward regarding the endangerment and reckless injury of a child. She is still in custody at the Bexar County Jail.
Erika Castro shared her heartbreak and uncertainty with the local CBS station KENS. She was puzzled by Rodriguez’s departure from the house.
“I wish she’d had stayed like she said she would’ve, instead of going into work. She got called into work,” Castro said.