Six relatives are now facing felony charges after a 7‑day‑old boy was mauled to death by the family dog at a home in Markle last year. The infant, identified as Jason A. Weaver, was attacked on Sept. 4, 2025, and later died from his injuries. Prosecutors filed charges in mid‑June, accusing the baby’s parents and grandparents of failing to protect the newborn.
According to local reporting, officers were called to a home on North Miller Street in Markle on Sept. 4, 2025. First responders found the infant in critical condition and he died while being transported to a Fort Wayne hospital, according to WPTA/21Alive.
Court filings show six family members now face felony counts. The baby’s father, Austin Kinsey, is charged with two counts of neglect and one count of harboring a non‑immunized dog that injured someone. The mother, Violet Weaver, is charged with one count of neglect. Relatives Timothy Kinsey, Tony Kinsey, Michael Wickey and Rita Wickey are all charged with neglect, and the Wickeys also face additional counts of harboring a dog. All six are being held at the Huntington County Jail. Court documents cited in the filings state that a forensic autopsy found more than 180 abrasions and major internal injuries, including brain hemorrhages, rib fractures and tears in the lungs, according to WIS News 10.
Home Conditions And The Dog
An officer who entered the residence wrote in a report that “There were so much trash and debris, officers could barely walk through the home,” according to court records. Family members told investigators the dog, named Chomp, could be jealous and had bitten people before, even as relatives described him as gentle with the infant. Chomp and other dogs were removed from the home after the attack. WIS News 10 reported that Chomp was later euthanized and that a necropsy found no underlying medical problems and described the dog as being in “ideal body condition.”
Legal Implications
The case centers on neglect counts and on charges for harboring a non‑immunized dog, which is a criminal offense under state law and can be elevated if an unvaccinated animal causes bodily injury, according to Indiana statute. Indiana Code §35‑46‑3‑1 makes it a crime to harbor a dog older than six months that has not been immunized against rabies and allows stiffer penalties if the animal injures someone. The broader backdrop is Indiana’s child welfare record. The Indiana Department of Child Services reported dozens of child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2024, as detailed in its Indiana DCS annual report.
All six defendants remain in custody and the case is pending in Huntington County. Future court dates were not listed in the filings available at the time of reporting. This story will be updated as new filings or hearing dates become public.
