A one-week-old baby boy died after a family dog bit him 180 times. The infant, Jason Anthony Weaver, suffered severe internal injuries and brain hemorrhages. Austin Kinsey, the father of the boy, received a 16-year prison sentence. This sentence came down on Monday after a plea deal. The home was so full of trash that officers could barely walk through it.
Police found the body in a rural Indiana home near Markle. The dog, a husky and pit bull mix named Chomp, was later put to sleep. Kinsey claimed he was playing video games in the same room. He said he left the baby only for a brief moment. The baby’s grandfather heard noises and found the dog dragging the child. Although officers performed CPR, the newborn infant could not be resuscitated.
Court documents describe the scene as squalid. The house was overflowing with bugs, dirty dishes, and old clothes. Investigators noted a “strong odor of animal, trash, and dirt everywhere.” Bugs were even found on the baby’s car seat. The home was declared unfit for living and the family was ordered to move out.
According to reports, the father was initially charged with neglect. The highest charge was dropped in exchange for the prison term. Other family members face active charges too. The baby’s mother, Violet Weaver, has a plea hearing set for later this month. Her father and uncle were also arrested along with another grandfather.
Family members had told others the dog was gentle with the baby. They admitted the animal could be jealous and had bitten people before. A relative stated that a firearm was kept inside the home to protect the dog. The New York Post reported that the dog had been aggressive toward other animals too. Police obtained a report from WPTA detailing the father’s claims.
A separate tragedy struck a family in Louisiana this week. A man named Kaegan Jude Solet is accused of killing four people. He stabbed Verna Mae Verdin and three of her relatives. A six-year-old boy survived the attack by running for help. He was stabbed multiple times but managed to reach neighbors.
Brandon Thiel, a relative, spoke about the boy’s bravery. “He knew he was injured and he was just worried about making sure someone knew his family was in trouble,” Thiel told an outlet. The child was flown by air to a hospital while in critical condition. His father posted a message online saying the boy is now stable. “Please pray for my little man as he recovers he’s so so strong and such a fighter,” the father wrote.
Solet was arrested on Saturday and released from a hospital on Tuesday. He was then charged with four counts of first-degree murder. Police found the four adult victims dead in a home on Ashland Drive. The boy remains a hero in the eyes of his family. The father thanked people for reaching out during this hard time.
These stories show how quickly safety can vanish in a home. Authorities in both cases found homes that were not safe for children. The Indiana home was filled with debris and dangerous animals. The Louisiana home became a crime scene for a violent attack. Per reports, the loss in Louisiana is especially hard for the minor children left behind.
“This devastating tragedy has left the Verret family facing an unimaginable amount of grief, uncertainty, and hardship,” a statement said. The little boy in Louisiana is fighting to recover from his wounds. His family asks for prayers as he heals. In Indiana, the father will spend 16 years behind bars for his role. The dog that killed the baby is gone. The other family members wait for their own court dates.
