BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — A 1-year-old boy died Monday night, hours after being attacked by dogs while at a babysitter's northeast Bexar County home, family members told KENS 5.
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office said earlier in the day that the baby, identified by relatives as Jiryiah Johnson, had suffered "pretty substantial injuries" before he was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center.
Heather Rodriguez, 36, faces a felony charge of causing serious bodily injury to a child by omission. Sheriff Javier Salazar said she left Jiryiah in the care of her 13-year-old daughter, whom Salazar said tried to fend off the dogs before calling for help and barricading herself and the baby in a bedroom.
"I'm considering her a hero," Salazar said earlier Monday, before the baby's death at the hospital. "I think her actions led to that baby not being mauled even more seriously or even killed as a result of this savage dog attack."
Jiryiah, officials said, suffered injuries to his head and throat.
Authorities initially responded to the 9700 block of Spruce Ridge Drive around 10 a.m.
Salazar said Jiryiah was in a bedroom with the teen girl, ostensibly "sequestered" from the dogs, when the animals suddenly forced their way in.
The sheriff said a damaged door rendering it not secure made it easier for the dogs to enter and start "biting the baby."
"The little girl, the 13-year-old, was able to maintain control of the baby," Salazar said. "But at this point, as it’s being described to me, it was almost a tug-of-war for the baby between at least one of the dogs and the little girl."
The teen spent "spent several minutes trying to fight them off" before taking the baby and trying to lock themselves in a bathroom, officials said. The dogs were able to force their way in before continuing their attack.
At some point, according to officials, the teen left to grab her phone and was able to call for help. She then took Jiryiah and again went into another room, Salazar said, using her body to barricade the door as law enforcement arrived and took control of the scene.
"This little girl sustained injuries herself, I believe she’s going to have some lasting psychological effects as a result of it," Salazar said, adding Rodriguez could also be charged for the injuries her daughter sustained.
Salazar said Rodriguez had been cited for letting her dogs run unleashed after an April incident where a man was stuck in his car and afraid to leave lest he be attacked. It's believed the baby's parents, who left the baby in Rodriguez's care, weren't aware the dogs were "problematic," Salazar added.
BCSO also shared photos showing decrepit and untidy conditions at the home. Child Protective Services responded to the residence after the attack.
