A Madison County woman has been indicted in connection with a dog attack in March that resulted in the death of a two-year-old boy.
Melissa White Phillips, 55, was charged with a violation of “Emily’s Law.”
The 2018 law was named after Emily Colvin, a Jackson County woman who was attacked and killed by a pack of dogs in 2017. It can be used to charge a dog owner with a crime if the dog is known by its owner to be dangerous and later causes physical injury due to the owner’s disregard. It is a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Phillips voluntarily surrendered to detectives Thursday. She is being held on $15,000, and could face additional charges, according to Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner.
Phillips was charged in connection with the March 1 death of Mark Alan Partain. Deputies, and police from New Hope and Owens Cross Roads, responded to the 200 block of T. R. Christian Road at about 5:21 p.m. for a report of a dog attack. Partain was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the sheriff’s office, its Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) team and Major Crime detectives seized two dogs at a neighbor’s residence due to their potential involvement in the attack. A third dog, located down the road, might also have been involved.
All three dogs suspected in the attack were surrendered by the owners and picked up by Madison County Animal Control.
During the investigation, it was discovered that one of the three dogs had recently been involved in another dog attack in the area reported to New Hope in January.
With the help of a forensic odontologist, investigators were able to collect bite impressions and rule out the involvement of two of the dogs in the child’s death.
The dogs involved in this incident have all been euthanized, the sheriff’s office said. Emily’s Law also authorizes officials to euthanize dangerous dogs.
“Nothing can make up for the loss of a child, but we hope this arrest helps bring the family one step closer to some form of closure, “Turner said. “I want to thank all the law enforcement officers who took part in this investigation, as well as Madison County Animal Control.”
The attack that killed Partain was the second fatal dog attack that week in North Alabama. The child died four days after Beau Clark, 4, was killed in an attack in Hartselle.
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