Dogs in Ohio attack thousands each year. See tips to help avoid bites
Children are more likely to be the victim of dog bites and attacks. Here are some tips to help adults and children avoid dog bites.
When 3-year-old Kingsley Wright was killed in a December dog attack while at her father’s home in Roselawn, it was the first time the child had gone to stay with him, prosecutors said.
Warren Houston, the child’s father, appeared in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on May 1 seeking to have his bond reduced. He was indicted in February on involuntary manslaughter, endangering children and reckless homicide in connection with the girl’s death.
Prosecutors said the 45-year-old Houston violated his duty of care to protect Kingsley when he left her asleep by herself in the living room on Dec. 27, in the same room where his two dogs were kept but not properly locked away.
The toddler was mauled by the dogs in her sleep and suffered “mutilating injuries” to her head and neck, prosecutors said.
According to 911 call recordings and police documents, Houston called Cincinnati police at 7:50 a.m., just after he reported waking up. He said he walked into the living room and found Kingsley lying dead on the floor.
Houston had just learned Kingsley was his biological daughter and she was killed during her first stay at his house, said Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor Christopher Lipps.
Hamilton County Dog Warden Beth Ward previously said the dogs, which Houston described in a 911 call as terriers, were euthanized at their owner’s request.
Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Virginia Tallent agreed to reduce Houston’s bond to $100,000 at 10%, meaning he must only pay $10,000 to be released from jail. He was initially required to post $20,000 as part of a bond set during his February arraignment.
His attorney, Tad Brittingham, said there’s no evidence that Houston purposefully caused the death of his young daughter.
Brittingham said that Houston intended to turn himself in when he learned a grand jury had indicted him, however, uniformed officers arrested him before he could surrender himself to authorities.
“This is a tragic situation for everybody involved,” he said. The attorney described Kingsley’s death as a “terrible accident.”
While investigating Kingsley’s death, authorities found numerous firearms at Houston’s home and a workbench where Houston made guns, according to prosecutors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives became involved in the case to investigate the guns, but its agents found no illegal alterations to the firearms and no charges were filed, Brittingham said.
If Houston can post bond, the judge imposed strict restrictions, including house arrest with an ankle monitor and a court order prohibiting him from owning firearms.
Tallent’s ruling came after Kingsley’s mom, Gina Smith, voiced her opposition to Houston being released from the Hamilton County Justice Center.
“I don’t think he should be able to get out like that,” Smith said in an emotional statement in court. “My daughter is dead and I have to live that … every morning.”
“It’s just not fair,” she said through tears.
Kingsley left her mom’s home in Wilmington on Dec. 23 to spend Christmas with her dad in Cincinnati, Smith previously told The Enquirer. She called every day to check on Kingsley and to make sure her daughter was OK.
Smith last spoke to Kingsley on Thursday night on FaceTime before the girl went to bed, she said.
The next morning, the girl’s older sister messaged Smith, saying she needed to call. It was about Kingsley. That’s when Smith was told Kingsley had died and that the girl’s father had been taken by police for questioning.
“It’s obvious to everybody in this room that, you know, your child died while in your care,” Tallent told Houston.
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