A father was sentenced to 16 years in prison after his one-week-old son died from dog bites in a filthy home. The baby, Jason Anthony Weaver, suffered 180 bites from the family pet named Chomp. The court documents show the baby died from severe internal injuries and brain hemorrhages. This happened in September at a rural home in Markle, Indiana. The dog was a five-year-old husky and pit bull mix that was later put down.
Authorities found the house in terrible condition with bugs and trash everywhere. One officer noted a “strong odor of animal, trash, and dirt everywhere” inside the walls. The New York Post reported that there was so much debris officers could barely walk through the home. Even the baby’s car seat had bugs on it. Investigators said the house was not fit for anyone to live in.
Austin Kinsey claimed he was playing video games in the same room before leaving the baby briefly. The baby’s grandfather heard noises and found the dog dragging the infant around the room. Responding cops tried CPR but could not save the newborn. The family admitted the dog had been aggressive toward other animals before. They even kept a gun in the house in case the dog acted up.
Chomp was known to bite other people before this fatal attack. Kinsey was initially charged with neglect and harboring a non-immunized dog. The top-tier neglect accusation was removed via a plea agreement securing the 16-year sentence. The New York Post reported the sentence was issued on Monday. The baby’s mother, Violet Weaver, still faces a plea hearing later this month.
While this case in Indiana involves a dog, another tragedy in Louisiana involves a man with a knife. Kaegan Jude Solet was charged with killing four family members in Houma, La. A six-year-old boy survived the attack and ran for help while wounded. The father stated, “Please pray for my little man as he recovers he’s so so strong and such a fighter.” The boy remains in stable condition after being airlifted to a hospital.
Solet was arrested after a manhunt and released from the hospital before being taken into custody. He confronts four first-degree murder charges alongside one count of attempted murder. The victims included a great-grandmother who was weeks away from retirement. A WVUE relative reported that the boy “knew he was injured and he was just worried about making sure someone knew his family was in trouble.” The family now faces a “devastating tragedy” with children losing multiple relatives at once.
