Grandfather and three-month-old grandchild mauled to death by pit bulls in Tennessee, US
A man and his three-month-old grandchild have been viciously mauled to death by multiple pitbulls at their home in Tennessee.
A grandfather and his three-month-old granddaughter were found dead in their Tennessee, US home, after apparently being mauled to death by the family’s pack of pit bulls that were known to terrorise the neighbourhood.
The body of James Alexander Smith, 50, was found inside the Tullahoma home on Wednesday afternoon, The New York Post reported, while the baby girl was still being attacked by their seven dogs – all of which police had to gun down to reach the victims, according to the 14th Judicial District Attorney-General.
The infant had died by the time cops fought their way to her.
Authorities are now investigating whether the pair were mauled to death or were already dead before the dog attack.
“This was an especially difficult and brutal scene,” Attorney-General Craig Northcott said in the release.
“Please pray for the family of the victims in this difficult time as well as the first responders as they cope with the trauma from what they witnessed.”
Neighbour Brian Kirby – who alleged the same pack killed his beloved cat just a week earlier – came home from work to find the baby’s mother screaming in the middle of the street, moments before police arrived.
When he offered to help, the woman went back into the house. Mr Kirby said he’d witnessed the dogs attack other animals in the neighbourhood – even his own pet – but never imagined they’d turn on people, FOX 8 reported.
“I don’t believe that they thought this would ever happen,” he said.
“I’m sure it was not done on purpose. I think that people just have animals, and they just need to put them on a leash better, that’s all. And I’m not blaming them for what happened at all. I know that they’re devastated more than we are because it’s their family.
“It’s just hard to understand and wrap your head around it.”
Rebecca Adams, who lives across the street from the family, said the baby’s mother was shrieking “my baby” as authorities swarmed the home.
Ms Adams said the pit bulls constantly broke loose from the yard and went after other neighbourhood pets.
“They’d run after cats, they’d run after dogs, you know, animal things,” she told WSMV.
“I could see them be aggressive towards animals. Never did I think they would do that to the kids.”
Officials said the surviving dogs were taken into custody by Tullahoma Animal Control.
Authorities are also reviewing the dogs’ history of aggression and whether prior issues involving the children and the Department of Children’s Services contributed to the tragedy, the Attorney-General said.
The house was condemned due to its condition, according to a GoFundMe started by the family.
Officials have not yet determined whether criminal charges will be filed.
This story was originally published by The New York Post and was reproduced with permission
Originally published as Grandfather and three-month-old grandchild mauled to death by pit bulls in Tennessee, US
