Woman arrested over dog attack that left 2-year-old dead in Owens Cross Roads

OWENS CROSS ROADS, Alabama (WHNT) – A woman has been charged in connection with a dog attack that left a 2-year-old dead in March.

According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), 55-year-old Melissa Phillips was charged with violating “Emily’s Law” and turned herself in on Thursday.

At the time of the incident, MCSO spokesman Brent Patterson said a boy was at a neighbor’s home on TR Christian Road when he was attacked by his dog. MCSO responded jointly with the New Hope Police Department (NHPD) and the Owens Cross Roads Police Department (OXPD).

Madison County Coroner Tyler Berryhill said the child was a 2-year-old boy who suffered fatal bite wounds in the attack.

When officers arrived, they began life-saving measures on the child, according to MCSO. He was later pronounced dead.

While investigating the attack, the sheriff’s office found two dogs at a neighbor’s house and took them in because they “may have been involved in the attack.” A third dog that officials believed may have been involved in the attack was found further down the street.

“The owner of the third dog surrendered his pet to authorities while the investigation continued. All three dogs suspected of being involved in the attack were surrendered by the owners and picked up by Madison County Animal Control,” the MCSO said.

Authorities said they discovered that one of the three dogs was recently involved in another dog attack in the area that the NHPD reported in January.

A forensic dentist was able to collect bite marks and rule out the involvement of two of the original dogs in the boy’s death. All of the dogs were euthanized, according to the sheriff’s office.

Phillips was taken to the Madison County Detention Center and her bail was set at $15,000. The MCSO said the investigation is ongoing and could result in additional charges.