Posted on 07/14/2011 10:27:11 PM PDT by george76
FRANKFORT, Maine — The mother of a 7-month-old girl mauled to death by the family dog in April was arrested Wednesday night and charged in connection with the death.
Maine State Police Detective Adam Kelley arrested 29-year-old Katrina Mitchell at her home on Town Hill Road and charged her with endangering the welfare of a child. Mitchell was taken to Waldo County Jail and was being held in lieu of $1,060 bail.
The charge was filed after police consulted with the District Attorney’s Office.
Annabelle Mitchell was mauled to death on April 12 in the living room of her house by the family’s Rottweiler, Hannibal, while the mother slept on the couch, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. Annabelle’s 2½-year-old brother also was in the home at the time.
...
Waldo County District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau said that endangering a child is defined as a reckless act which violates a duty of care or protection.
“What we’ll have to prove, if this goes to trial, is that her behavior was reckless,” he said. “There’s lots of things parents can do to end up in bad situations without the slightest guilt attached to it. I think that when the evidence comes out, it’ll be clear … that this was criminal conduct.”
Rushlau said he could not answer questions concerning details about the baby’s death until the affidavit becomes available to the public.
(Excerpt) Read more at bangordailynews.com ...
Why didn’t the hullabaloo of the dog attack instantly wake Mom?
Good question. Better one would be, why wasn’t the dog outside or somewhere it didn’t have access to the children. It probably only took a split second for a dog of that type to kill a baby
I could not imagine how she must feel. Yes she looks heartbroken and ready to roll over and die.
Yes, she looks quite upset when being booked three months after her child died. She was probably upset in April when it happened too
She was in the same room but asleep on the couch. That’s neglect? There was no mention that the dog had ever done anything before so barring that, wouldn’t a formal investigation be warranted before an arrest? That’s what I mean by guilty until proven innocent.
Criminal defense attorneys love folks like you.The dogs past has no bearing on what happened. Perhaps it was just waiting for an opportunity.There was a three month investigation before charges and arrest.No one has tried and convicted anyone on this thread. They have stated opinions
When you lose a loved one there is no bottom to the depth of grief.
You ascribe human characteristics to a dog... lying in wait. Really? I think you have seen too many Disney movies.
ITA- sadly, parents are responsible even in the event of an “accident”. The dog had access to the baby without supervision, that never should have been allowed.
I am saddened for the mother. BUT. It seems like more and more parents are getting away with killing their children “accidentally”... leaving them in a hot car is an accident, etc. Just recently we had two different drownings of small children- one on a river where the parents took the baby tubing and supposedly the life vest came off, and another where the mother had her baby in a Bumbo seat in a wading pool and it tipped over. These were deemed “accidents” and the parents were not charged.
“The baby’s father, 32-year-old John Mitchell, asked a Waldo County deputy to shoot the Rottweiler to death, McCausland said.”
Quote from earlier article:http://bangordailynews.com/2011/04/13/news/frankfort-girl-7-months-mauled-to-death-by-family%E2%80%99s-rottweiler/
It is either a tragic accident or it is a KILLING... it cannot be both. Parents do not KILL their children ACCIDENTALLY. Prove neglect or go away. Prayers for this family.
Police in Tennessee do not arrest parents if family dog bites or mauls the kids...regardless if Rottie, Chow or Pug...whatever
They do file a report with animal control and the dog must be quarantined for 10 days...even in serious attacks they do not arrest the parents unless serious direct and collateral neglect is involved
In serious attacks the animal control folks will request euthanasia of pet
This case based simply on article would not result in charges here
That said...the poster who said don’t leave Brutus alone with toddler is right
Dogs are beasts...they can turn on you without warning and if its a big dog and the victim is a baby..it can be tough
Dogs for some reason can lash out at unsuspecting kids for no ready reason to ascertain even though otherwise a great dog
And of course some dogs give tells that they will bite almost anyone but alpha male master...or a strong female owner...so you know going in what’s up but I have seen great dogs just snap and nip or worse bite or moderate puncture wound attacks....never happened to me but I’ve seen my own dogs over my half century lash out....if their eyes black out and the get low and tense looking up then you better watch em...my advice...wonder I never got bit
Dogs can be unpredictable...you gotta watch the big boys
Quite probably it did, but too late.
You may not be familiar with Rotties, but I am. They are unbelievably powerful, especially in their jaws and shoulders.
A seven month old child weighs perhaps 25 pounds.
A Rottie could kill a person of this size in a split second. Grab by the neck and shake.
A mature Rott could attack a baby with mom asleep in same room and it would be over in less time for mom to awake enough to even scream
I had a mature male Rottweiler in the 80s...on lead when attacked by a Great Dane killed the Dane in around 15 seconds on a sidewalk in upper Nyack....
That dog later saved the life of my girlfriend as she showered outside Gainesville Florida when a serial rapist killer got in her home....the dog nearly killed the man
However I woulda for sure watched that dog around kids but I had none then
Please show me where I stated that anyone on this thread tried and convicted her. My comment was directed toward the arresting police agency. I assume you're not a criminal defense attorney and you don't know the first thing about me so I'd say your assertion about them loving me is presumptuous, at best.
If you're looking for a fight, I'm really not interested.
The dog’s past would most certainly have bearing. Had the dog acted aggressively in the past and she knowingly exposed the child to it then that would be cause for a neglect charge.
Yes it would have bearing in that scenario. In that case she should be charged with murder instead of neglect
You ascribe human characteristics to a dog... lying in wait. Really? I think you have seen too many Disney movies.
I do no such thing. Dogs are predators as are cats as are humans when you get down to it. If you think child neglect charges are too harsh, I hope you don’t have young children around under your care
When you lose a loved one there is no bottom to the depth of grief.
The woman is crying because she was arrested
It is either a tragic accident or it is a KILLING...
Not saying it was a killing but it was definitely no accident. Accidents are things like tripping while you’re carrying the baby and such.Going to sleep with a rottweiler in the house and two small children is asking for trouble. It was negligence on the part of the mother. Pets are wonderful and loving and all, but anyone who leaves a child alone with one is not a rational thinking person
.even in serious attacks they do not arrest the parents unless serious direct and collateral neglect is involved.
Going to sleep with a large dog in the house fits this one
I guess I along with millions of Americans are negligent every single night we go to sleep with Fido in the house... you are such a loon.
This attack just happened to be a Rottweiler. I’m not coming down against the breed at all. Just trying to make the point that it’s not a good idea to leave small children at the mercy of an animal
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