Parents charged for dog attack

2005-12-15 17:38

Suffolk - The parents of a two-year-old boy fatally mauled by the family's dogs were charged with murder and neglect for leaving the child alone with the two pit bull mixes.

James Jonathan Martin, 29, and Heather Frango, 25, were also charged on Wednesday with involuntary homicide. They were being held without bond until a second court appearance on Thursday, said lieutenant Debbie George, police spokesperson, The Virginian-Pilot reported on Thursday.

On October 3, Jonathan Martin was bitten on his face, arms and legs by the two animals. He died the same day from blood loss.

A police investigation concluded that Jonathan was downstairs alone with the dogs, including the female's puppies, when the attack occurred. His parents were upstairs.

Suffolk Commonwealth's attorney C Phillips Ferguson said the murder charge was tied to the commission of another felony, the abuse and neglect.

"This is not your everyday case," he said.

The dogs, the male Ox, and Little Girl are being held until after the case goes to court, George said. Both dogs will be euthanised once the case has been concluded, she said.

Next week, a woman in Virginia's Spotsylvania county is scheduled to go on trial in the death of an 82-year-old woman attacked by three roaming pit bulls earlier this year.

The death of Dorothy Sullivan has resulted in state and local proposals to identify dangerous dogs and increase penalties for owners who don't control them.

Deanna Large, who prosecutors say owned the pit bulls that killed Sullivan, is set to be tried on Tuesday on a charge of involuntary homicide.

- AP