If 3-year-old Kingsley Wright is remembered for anything, it’s that she was the life of any room she entered.
“She was happy. She liked to sing, she liked to dance,” her mom, Gina Smith, told The Enquirer on Monday. “She just put a lot of smiles on a lot of people’s faces.”
Kingsley was killed Friday in a dog attack while at her father’s apartment in Cincinnati’s Roselawn neighborhood. Since that tragic moment, life has been turned upside down for Kingsley’s loved ones.
“It’s just been one big roller coaster,” Smith said. “I feel like we ain’t ever going to get off of it.”
While Kingsley’s life was short, she left a strong impression on the people she met, Smith said. She added that since her daughter’s death, people have taken to social media to recall their chance encounters with Kingsley at the store, saying they remember the girl’s bright smile.
“She just had her own personality. She was a very sassy, smart little girl,” Smith said. “It was never a dull moment with her.”
What happened to Kingsley Wright?
According to 911 call recordings and police documents, Kingsley’s father 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 on the floor dead.
After giving his daughter’s description to the dispatcher, who told him to put away any pets in the home before officers arrived, Kingsley’s father said they had terriers, and that the dogs were already in their cages.
“That’s why I’m like, did any of my pets attack her or something? I would have heard this,” the man said.
There was one other person in the apartment and they both woke up at the same time, he told the dispatcher. It did not appear there was a break-in because the front door to the apartment was locked, the man said.
“My baby is dead,” Kingsley’s father said. “This has got to be a f—ing nightmare.”
Cincinnati Animal CARE was called Friday morning to remove three dogs from the home. The dogs were taken to the animal shelter to be held for a state-mandated 10-day quarantine period, said Lisa Colina, a shelter spokesperson.
When asked whether euthanasia is a likely outcome, Colina said the animals will be held until the shelter is given further direction by Cincinnati police. She added the shelter is not aware of previous issues concerning the dogs.
Mom seeking answers after Kingsley’s death
Kingsley left her mom’s home in Wilmington on Dec. 23 to spend Christmas with her dad in Cincinnati, Smith said. She called every day to check on Kingsley and to make sure her daughter was okay.
Smith last spoke to Kingsley on Thursday night on FaceTime before the girl went to bed, Smith 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.
Cincinnati police have yet to announce any arrests in connection with Kingsley’s death, however, the department’s homicide unit was called to investigate and detectives have been in contact with the girl’s family.
Smith said she keeps getting questions about how this could’ve happened and she only has one answer, “I don’t know.” She hopes that the police can uncover some answers, however.
“For that poor baby to be attacked by dogs like that and him not hear it, you know, that’s what I’m questioning,” Smith said.
Still, Smith said she’s appreciative of the outpouring of support she’s received from the community. She said people have made decals honoring Kingsley and a childhood friend on Monday gave Smith a throw blanket decorated with pictures of Kingsley on it.
“I couldn’t ask for a better community,” she said.
Enquirer reporters Erin Couch and Aaron Valdez contributed.
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