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Grandfather, 3-Month-Old Granddaughter Found Dead as Police Halt Pit Bull Mauling in Tennessee

Investigators are still determining whether the mauling happened postmortem to guide any charging decisions.

Overview

  • Tullahoma police arrived Wednesday and saw pit bulls actively mauling the infant, then killed the dogs to stop the attack as both victims were already deceased.
  • Authorities identified the victims as James Alexander Smith, 50, and his 3-month-old granddaughter at a home on East Warren Street.
  • The district attorney’s office says the probe centers on cause of death, whether the mauling occurred after death, and unresolved questions about who owned the dogs.
  • Other animals from the residence were taken into Tullahoma Animal Control custody, with local reports indicating the property housed about seven pit bulls.
  • Neighbors described prior escapes and attacks on pets, officials called the scene especially difficult, the home was later condemned according to reports, and a fundraiser was launched for the displaced family.