They put their baby to bed in the attic and went to smoke drugs: the baby dies after being attacked by pit bulls

In New York State in the United States, two 19-year-old parents put their 3-month-old baby to bed in the attic to go smoke weed. The infant was attacked by their two dogs and died from his injuries.

On August 3, 2024, in Rochester, Western New York, two young parents left their 3-month-old baby sleeping alone in the attic and two dogs attacked him.

They were smoking marijuana

The 19-year-old parents put their baby to bed in the attic and went downstairs to relax by smoking marijuana, police explained in a press release, relayed by the New York Post.

Sulamain Hawkins and Anastasia Weaver, are charged with involuntary manslaughter of their own child. They have pleaded not guilty.

The young adult couple was away during the hour when the pit bull dogs attacked the baby. When they returned, they found their child injured and rushed him to the hospital. He died from his injuries from “severe bodily trauma”, authorities said.

Assistant District Attorney Speaks Out

Assistant District Attorney Sara VanStrydonck said: “They knew the risk and they deliberately ignored it.” The family was renting the house from an acquaintance and the dogs were kept in the attic.

"The allegations here, we believe, support the recklessness that a reasonable person in these defendants' position would not have acted as they did,", she adds.

$15,000 bail

According to ABC News, an investigation by police, the Child Protective Services The Monroe County Children's and District Attorney's Office arrested the parents on Wednesday, August 21.

They were remanded in custody and bail was set at $15,000. The dogs were euthanized. They are scheduled to appear in court on August 27.