SAN ANTONIO, Texas –New charges have emerged in connection with a tragic incident involving a fatal dog attack, that resulted in the death of a 1-year-old boy.
The dogs’ owner, Heather Rodriguez, faces new charges after a detailed affidavit revealed disturbing information about the attack and the living conditions inside her home.
Rodriguez, initially charged with injury to a child related to the infant’s death, now faces two additional charges.
One charge accuses her of causing reckless bodily injury to her teenage daughter by leaving her in the house with the dogs, while the second charge accuses Rodriguez of placing the baby in imminent danger by failing to provide adequate supervision.
According to the affidavit, which was used to secure the arrest warrant, investigators described the conditions inside Rodriguez’s northeast Bexar County home as “deplorable.”
Detectives noted “animal feces all over the floor, holes in the wall, dirty laundry, and trash scattered around the house,” painting a disturbing picture of the environment in which the attack took place.
The affidavit also includes a harrowing account from Rodriguez’s daughter, who was present during the attack.
The girl told detectives she had been sitting on a bed, playing a video game, with the baby in her lap.
Though the door to the room was closed, the dogs—previously able to chew through the bottom of the door—gained access and launched a violent attack.
The girl recounted how she tried to protect the baby, but the dogs continued their assault as they moved from room to room. She eventually managed to call for help and used her body as a barricade to keep the dogs behind a door.
The teen sustained visible injuries from the attack, including bite marks and scratches on her arms, hands, feet, and legs. Despite the injuries, she declined hospital treatment.
Official statements indicate that a decision regarding the dogs’ fate is expected to be made in the coming week.
Procedures typically involve evaluations of the animals’ behavior and determining if they pose a continued threat to the community. The decision will consider public safety, the welfare of the animals, and the circumstances of the attack.
