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 ...
Stooooopidity is sometimes criminal. Fry her.
Why would they arrest the dog?
You think this is funny? She's obviously destroyed in that photo. The charges seem questionable to say the least, and she's in jail why? She's not a flight risk and doesn't even have a thousand dollars to get bailed out. This whole thing stinks to high heaven.
But you laugh.
Of such "little" things souls are weighed.
Since the dog had never been reported before, there doesn't seem to be any reason for the family to suspect that it would attack the child.
My baby girl used to fall asleep in her bouncy chair alongside me right there in the livingroom plenty of times. She wasn't on the floor, but the chair was just a few inches off of it. A large dog could easily snap her head and yank her out.
Just one of the reasons we didn't get a dog until my kids were all much older.
Since the dog had never been reported before, there doesn't seem to be any reason for the family to suspect that it would attack the child.
My baby girl used to fall asleep in her bouncy chair alongside me right there in the livingroom plenty of times. She wasn't on the floor, but the chair was just a few inches off of it. A large dog could easily snap her head and yank her out.
Just one of the reasons we didn't get a dog until my kids were all much older.
You are correct and quite reasonable... be prepared to be flamed.
Not enough info in the article to determine why she was arrested. It seems to me that she’s being treated as guilty (of something?) until proven innocent.
Why would they arrest the dog?
Look at the pic. They did arrest the dog
She looks heartbroken in that pic.
She should look upset for allowing an animal unfettered opportunity to kill her children. $1060 is excessive bail? If she couldn’t afford that, how does she afford to support two children and the upkeep of a very large dog? Yes this smells to high heaven that it took so long for her to be charged and arrested. You are right though, that it isn’t funny, and I too am guilty of making light of it
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.
I have no problem whatsoever with those charges.Yes, parents sometimes sneak a nap at the same time as young children.No problem there. The problem is she took a nap and left the defenseless child in a dangerous situation.I love my dog like a family member, and he’s gentle as can be, but he’ll never be left alone with a child
You are correct and quite reasonable... be prepared to be flamed.
You need flaming too. Nowhere did she say she fell asleep with a Rotweiler running loose in the house.Matter of fact, said she waited till the kids were older to get a dog for that reason.
She was charged and arrested. That’s not treating someone as though they’re guilty.Guilt or innocence will be decided by a jury of her peers.The charge is neglect not murder.
Why didn’t the hullabaloo of the dog attack instantly wake Mom?
???? Crazy person.
Did not find anything funny.
Did not laugh.
A responsible parent puts the well-being of the child as the #1 priority. She obviously didn’t prioritize correctly and the adorable baby was mauled to death as a result.
I reiterate: Guilty!
(Please note that I am neither a court of law nor a juror therein, so I do not need to presume the innocence of the mother.)
Wow... no review of evidence, no trial... just guilty.... amazing!
I could not imagine how she must feel. Yes she looks heartbroken and ready to roll over and die.
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