Friday, November 18, 2011

Grandmother Pleads Guilty In Grandson's Dog Mauling Death

TEXAS -- A Killeen woman has entered a guilty plea in 27th District Court to a criminally negligent homicide charge in the 2007 dog mauling death of her grandson.

If the judge accepts the plea and grants deferred adjudication probation, Brenda Ellen Parker, 51, will not have a criminal record if she successfully completes her probation.

Her lawyer said he expects Parker will be formally sentenced in January.

She was charged after her pit bull mauled her 11-year-old grandson Seth Lovitt on Nov. 6, 2007.

The victim was playing with his brother when the dog leaped from a couch and latched on to the boy's neck. The dog continued to bite Seth until Lovitt and Parker were able to remove him.

He died later that night in Fort Hood's Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center.

Seth Lovitt's mother, Misty L. Lovitt, was charged manslaughter in the boy's death, but that charge was dropped after she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault in exchange for providing testimony against Parker.

Misty Lovitt was given a one-year probated sentence.

An affidavit said the boy was attacked while he and his brother were playing at Parker's house and the dog lunged at the boy, biting him on the neck.

A grand jury indicted Misty Lovitt and Parker after prosecutor's presented evidence that both women knew the dog was vicious.

(KWTX - November 18, 2011)