Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan received a call around 6 p.m. Thursday. Inside the home was a three-week-old girl, later identified as Susannah Jean Murray, with severe head injuries. She was rushed to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and received emergency surgery. The baby passed away early Friday morning from her injuries and an autopsy revealed Susannah died of head injuries consistent with a dog bite.
According to police, the girl was alone in the house with the three dogs while her mother and other adults were outside on the porch. One of the adults decided to go back into the home to check on Susannah; the last time someone checked on her was five minutes before when was sitting in her bouncy chair and was fine. This time she had severe head injuries and one of the family’s pit bulls had blood around its mouth. The other two dogs were in a different area of the house although none of pit bulls were confined to an area to prevent them from coming into contact with the baby.
Some neighbours said the dogs as dangerous. One of them described the dogs as “mean and vicious.” Another neighbour said the dogs used to chase her if they got out of the fence and she was afraid. But another neighbour was shocked one of the dogs became so aggressive and others said the dogs have never caused any problems before.
There were two other children living in the home and Child Protective Services have been notified. There is no indication the children were removed from the home. The three dogs were seized and taken to a kennel where they are now under quarantine.
Sgt. Terry Dixon of the Grand Rapids Police Department said the fact the dogs were pit bulls is not really enough to condemn what happened. Dixon said children should never be left alone around dogs and other pets. He added, “When you have an infant or children who are unable to defend themselves, basically defenceless, an adult should always be in the company of a child, especially a three-week-old.
Police are continuing to investigate. Although they are currently treating the matter as a horrible tragedy, they will be discussing their findings with prosecutors and charges may be laid.
