A one-month-old girl has died at a home north of Vidor after deputies and paramedics rushed to reports of an infant who was not breathing, only to find her suffering from severe injuries to her body. The family's dog, a mixed breed described as part pit bull and part Akita, has since been quarantined as investigators try to determine exactly what happened inside the residence.
According to fox4beaumont.com, Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the 4300 block of Bertie Street after a call came in that an infant at the home was not breathing. Deputies and emergency medical personnel provided lifesaving measures at the scene, but the child could not be saved and died there.
Injuries Described as Consistent With a Dog Attack
Per the same report, the infant's severe injuries were described as consistent with wounds caused by a dog, according to Orange County Sheriff Bobby Smith. The family's dog, found inside the residence, was quarantined by authorities following the discovery. The station's account does not specify how long the quarantine will last or what will ultimately happen to the animal.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division has opened a formal investigation into the infant's death. Investigators have interviewed family members, processed the scene, and collected evidence, the report notes, though the case remains in its early stages. The sheriff's office has said additional information will be released later.
Autopsy Ordered as Case Moves Forward
Orange County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Chad Jenkins has ordered an autopsy to help determine the cause of death, per the same account. No autopsy findings have been released, and no information has been provided about whether anyone faces charges in connection with the case.
Cases like this typically fall to the sheriff's office's Major Crimes Unit, which houses the agency's dedicated Homicide and Cold Case Squads, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. That unit's Homicide Squad is tasked with investigating all homicides and unattended deaths, while the office's Forensics Crime Scene Investigator squads are responsible for processing active crime scenes for evidence. Neither the identity of the infant nor of her family members has been released as the investigation continues.
