A father in Ohio, Blake Bates, admitted to involuntary manslaughter a year after his infant son, Royal Bates, was fatally attacked by their pit bull mix pet named Kilo. Prosecutors revealed that Kilo had a history of aggressive behavior.
Bates and his partner, Alyssa Smith, left the six-month-old baby and another child unsupervised with the pit bull. During their absence, the dog viciously attacked Royal, causing fatal injuries to the infant’s skull.
Body camera footage captured the couple in a state of distress as paramedics attempted to save the baby, who tragically succumbed to his injuries despite being rushed to the hospital.
Authorities euthanized the aggressive dog to prevent future harm. Prosecutor Ray Grogan emphasized that Bates disregarded previous warnings about the dog’s aggressive tendencies, as it had previously attacked a child in the neighborhood.
Grogan accused Bates of neglecting to safeguard his child and failing to take adequate precautions despite knowing about Kilo’s prior aggressive behavior. Bates pleaded guilty to the charges, acknowledging his responsibility for the avoidable tragedy that claimed the life of an innocent child.
Smith is awaiting sentencing for child endangerment related to the incident. Bates faces a three-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter in addition to charges for other offenses, including an assault and an attempted escape.
Grogan stressed the importance of responsible pet ownership, especially with aggressive dogs, emphasizing the need for heightened caution around children. This incident follows a separate attack where an XL Bully dog severely injured a man in Nottinghamshire.
Police responded to a dog attack in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, where a man and a woman were injured by the XL Bully. The man sustained serious facial and hand injuries, while the woman had minor arm injuries. Authorities sedated the dog and placed it in secure kennels following the incident.
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