A heroic 13-year-old girl ‘did everything she could’ to save a one-year-old boy from a pit bull, but tragically couldn’t prevent his death.
Jiryiah Johnson was reportedly in the care of his babysitter, Heather Rodriguez, 36, when her pit bulls mauled him Monday at her home in Converse, Texas.
Rodriguez had left the child alone with her teenage daughter and the three violent dogs.
When the dogs began attacking the baby, the teen desperately tried to protect him but ended up in a “tug of war for the baby” with one of the dogs, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said.
“She did everything she could to lift the baby over her head, but I understand the dog climbed onto something and managed to get the baby out of her hands,” he said. KSAT.
Jiryiah Johnson, 1, died after being mauled by his babysitter’s pit bulls
The pit bulls were taken into custody after the attack because the owner seemed more concerned about the well-being of her dogs than the baby and her daughter.
The other two dogs attacked as the girl ran through the house trying to get the child away from the dogs. She tried to take Jiryiah to the bathroom, but the dogs continued the chase.
Realizing the danger, she tried to make her cell phone call for help.
The teen tried to lock her and Jiryiah in a bedroom to wait for police, but the dogs bit through and destroyed the door to get into the room.
Rodriguez returned home as officers attempted to enter the home. She managed to get the dogs outside.
Heather Rodriguez, 36, left her daughter, 13, alone with the baby and her three violent dogs
The pit bulls broke through the door of the room where the girl and baby were
“She seemed more concerned about what was going on with those dogs,” Salazar said of Rodriguez.
Jiryiah was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in critical condition. He was bitten on his neck and face.
He died on Monday evening after being transferred to University Hospital after several operations.
“I couldn’t imagine it,” a local woman shocked by the incident told KSAT.
The heroic girl was also bitten several times during the attack.
Police arrived at Rodriguez’s home after her daughter was able to call for help on her cell phone
“It’s a heartbreaking scenario,” Salazar said.
Jiryiah’s devastated mother, Erika Castro, shared KENS5 that she could not cope with the attack.
“I’m shaking, I’ve had panic attacks,” Castro said.
“I wish she would have stayed like she said,” she added of Rodriguez.
Castro said she was told the dogs would be kept away from her son.
One of the dogs was taken into custody — meaning Rodriguez has lost all rights to it — and the other two were taken by animal control.
Jiryiah giggled in a kiddie pool. He was mauled by pit bulls when a teenage girl desperately tried to save him
Jiryiah and his father Julian Johnson are pictured
Rodriguez was arrested and charged with negligence causing injury to a child with great bodily harm.
She may be prosecuted for her daughter’s injuries. Child Protective Services is investigating the case and Rodriguez is being held in the Bexar County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
In April, Rodriguez was cited because her unleashed dogs wouldn’t let a man out of his car.
Salazar said Jiryiah’s parents knew Rodriguez had three large pit bulls but did not know they were behaving violently.
“If you have a dog like that, that you know is vicious, you know it’s a problem, like, don’t even bring babies into your home, especially someone else’s baby,” Salazar told KSAT.
Castro told KENS5 that she is grateful for Rodriguez’s daughter for “doing her best.”
Jiryiah pictured with his parents. A GoFundMe has been set up to help them with funeral and medical expenses
A GoFundMe for Castro and Jiryiah’s father Julian Johnson was made to fund funeral and medical expenses.
“I can’t imagine what you and your family are going through. Even though there are no words that will make you feel better, I hope you fight for justice for your precious little one,” wrote Ashlie Vargas, a GoFundMe donor.
Castro described her baby as a “crazy” and loving boy who loved dinosaurs and Bluey, the cartoon.