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The nanny of the seven-year-old boy who was mauled to death by four dogs and left his mother badly injured said the dogs were “scary”.
Melissa Karren, of Blackfoot, Idaho, has cared for Emily Islas’ two children since 2020 and last saw them on Friday before seven-year-old Kellan was tragically killed by the neighbors’ four dogs the following night.
Emily was also seriously injured and is currently in ICU with nerve damage and head injuries.
Since babysitting, Karren recalled that Emily’s five-year-old daughter, Rory, had mentioned that the neighbor’s dogs were “scary” and that they had to be “careful.”
“Rory had mentioned that the dogs were a bit scary,” Karren told DailyMail.com on Wednesday afternoon. “I just assumed it was because they were big dogs. she made little comments [about] how they had to be careful around them.
‘I responded by saying, “Just be nice to them.” I never knew there were four, I thought maybe two.
Kellan Islas, seven, (right) was mauled to death by four dogs, including two Rottweilers, outside his home on the Fort Hall reservation in Idaho on Saturday. His mother Emily, 39, (left) was ‘severely injured’ trying to protect her son.
Karren said she doesn’t think Rory (left) has understood what happened to her brother (right), but that her parents, Emily and Lyle, have told her that Kellan is “her angel now.” Rory was home during the attack, but his mother told her to stay inside.
Nanny Melissa Karren (left) told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that Emily’s five-year-old daughter Rory had mentioned that the dogs were “scary” and that “you have to be careful around them”.
Rory was home when the attack happened, but was inside the trailer, according to Karren.
The dogs were owned by neighbors Benjamin Dominick Wolfchild and Juliana Wolfchild, who have since received 15 citations from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Animal Ordinance, including one for failing to keep their dogs’ rabies shots up to date. The couple could also face federal charges.
The Islas family had recently moved back to the area from Idaho Falls over the Christmas holidays and Karren believed the mother of two’s living situation was “temporary.” She didn’t know if Emily knew the Wolfchilds personally, but her trailer was located behind the couple’s home.
Emily had left her son outside to play around 5:50 p.m. Saturday. When he didn’t return a few minutes later, she found him lying face down on the porch of the Wolfchild residence as the dogs attacked him, according to Sho Ban News.
Emily was left ‘badly injured’ after she tried, but failed, to fight the dogs. She lay on top of her son to protect him, but by the time she finished the attack, the boy’s injuries had knocked him unconscious.
Both were taken to Portneuf Medical Center.
Karren, who has worked in childcare for 20 years, recalled the boy as “very smart” and loved to read.
“Last Thursday, he brought books from school and wanted to read to the other children,” he told DailyMail.com. She sat on the couch in the family room and read to them. She word for word, no mistakes. When Emily came to pick up Rory and Kellan, she asked me if she could read to them more often.
He also remembered Kellan as a “seeker” who was “very active” and “very creative.”
Emily had left her son outside to play around 5:50 p.m. Saturday. When he didn’t return a few minutes later, she found him lying face down on the porch of the Wolfchild residence as the dogs attacked him. She couldn’t fight the dogs and lay on top of her son to protect him, but her injuries caused her to lose consciousness.
Karren remembers Kellen (pictured with her mother) as ‘very smart’ and ‘very creative’
The last time she saw the boy (pictured with his mother) and his sister was Friday and she said that the day before Kellen had brought books to her room and read to the other children and wanted to do it more often.
‘He loved to draw and think of different ideas for games. All boy! she told DailyMail.com. “She recently got a cell phone and was very excited with the wallpapers she found on them and was always playing music and dancing.”
As for Rory, Karren doesn’t think the girl fully understands what happened to her brother, but instead was told by her father Lyle and Emily that “Kellan was her angel now.”
Rory is currently staying with Lyle, who declined to be interviewed because the family is “taking some time to be private.”
“It’s been a lot for the family and they need time to process and heal,” Karren told DailyMail.com.
Emily underwent emergency surgery following the attack and is currently still in the ICU.
“I spoke to her every day since Monday,” the nanny told DailyMail.com. “She is in pain, physically and emotionally…she has several serious injuries that need to heal right now.”
The mother of two’ sustained nerve damage and [had] a ruptured artery in her right arm, as well as damage to the back of her head, left arm, and back,” her friend Samantha Lenay wrote in GoFundMe.
I know Emily and I know that she did everything in her power to protect Kellan from that attack. She is an incredible woman and mother and she sacrificed herself to try and save her little boy,” the mother’s friend Samantha Lenay wrote on GoFundMe, which has raised almost $19,000 of her now updated goal of $30,000.
Emily was left ‘badly injured’ after she tried, but failed, to fight the dogs. She lay on top of her son to protect him, but by the time she finished the attack, the boy’s injuries had knocked him unconscious.
The mother is currently in the ICU and underwent emergency surgery. She suffered nerve damage and head injuries.
The mother had surgery and is still “quite swollen,” Lenay said. She will need physical and occupational therapy due to nerve and tissue damage in her arms.
Bannock County Coroner Torey Danner called it a “tragic situation” and said his “heart goes out to them.”
‘Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare. This situation is very difficult to understand and my thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time,’ she said, according to Idaho State Journal.
The Woldchilds received 15 citations from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Animals Ordinance, including ferocious animal attack and exceeding the pet limit, according to Sho-Ban News. They also received a ticket for their dogs’ rabies vaccinations.
DailyMail.com has contacted the Wolfchilds for comment.
All four dogs were euthanized by the Fort Hall Police Department.
Fort Hall police, the FBI and Fish & Game are conducting an investigation into the incident and the case is expected to be submitted to the US Attorney’s Office for review.