By Logan Andrew, FreeWire/Editor-In-Chief
-Two separate tragedies involving fatal dog attacks on infants have rocked Central Ohio this week—one in Marion, one in Columbus—prompting questions about accountability, public safety, and the legal responsibilities of pet owners.
In Marion County, a 6-month-old boy was killed by the family’s pit bull in April of last year. Nearly a year later, the parents—Blake Bates and Alyssa Smith—have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, child endangering, and reckless homicide. A Marion County grand jury handed down the indictments earlier this week, marking one of the rare instances in Ohio where a dog mauling has led to felony charges against a child’s guardians.
According to reports, the same dog, named Kilo, had previously attacked a neighbor’s child—an incident that was known to both the family and local authorities. Prosecutor Ray Grogan stated bluntly that the family failed to take appropriate action to prevent future harm.
“When you have a dog… that demonstrates aggressive behavior toward a human being, you have to take steps,” Grogan said. “Particularly when you have a child in the home.”
If convicted on all charges, Bates and Smith could each face up to 16.5 years in prison.
Just one day after those charges were announced, tragedy struck again—this time in Columbus, where a 7-month-old girl was attacked and killed by a dog at a home on South Champion Drive, located on the city’s Far South Side. The infant was transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Multiple dogs were removed from the property by Franklin County Animal Control, but as of this writing, no charges have been filed, and police have described the case as a “tragic accident.”
These back-to-back cases are raising alarm across Ohio, where fatal dog attacks remain relatively rare but disproportionately affect young children. According to national data, Ohio typically sees two to three fatal dog attacks per year, and children under 5 are among the most at risk.
Under current state law, most dog-related incidents are misdemeanors—with fines starting as low as $25 unless the dog has a history of aggression. In cases where the animal is known to be dangerous, and the owner fails to act, felony charges can be brought—as seen in the Marion case.
While some push for stricter breed-specific legislation, others argue that the problem lies more with ownership than genetics.
“Yes, I fully believe it’s how they are raised,” said Annie Wilfer-Kaehr, a Doberman handler. “Pit bulls do have a nasty bite and they don’t let go. That’s what they are bred to do—take down a bull. They have to be in the right hands.”
🐾 Sidebar: Pit Bulls & the Law in Ohio
(Contributed by April Rodgers )
- Breed-specific legislation (BSL) exists in 62 cities across Ohio, often labeling pit bulls as “vicious” or “dangerous.”
- 18 Ohio towns have outright bans on pit bulls, including Shelby, Plymouth and Belleville..
- If a dog has been officially deemed vicious due to its actions, the owner is required to carry liability insurance of at least $100,000 under Ohio law.
No amount of legislation can prevent every tragedy—but with two babies dead in as many counties, families and officials alike are left to ask whether some of these losses could have been prevented through earlier action, better enforcement, or simply keeping children away from known dangerous animals.
FreeWire will continue following developments in both cases.
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