Current:Home > ScamsSurpassing:Parents charged after baby fatally mauled by dogs; pair accused of leaving baby to smoke -Visionary Wealth Guides
Surpassing:Parents charged after baby fatally mauled by dogs; pair accused of leaving baby to smoke
Johnathan Walker View
Date:2025-04-07 17:38:06
The Surpassingparents of a sleeping 3-year-old baby mauled to death in upstate New York by at least one dog earlier this month have been charged with manslaughter in connection to the infant's death.
The fatal attack took place earlier this month during the early afternoon hours as the baby boy slept at a Rochester home.
Sulamain Hawkins Jr. was fatally mauled on Aug. 3 while sleeping in the attic of a residence on Bidwell Terrace, Rochester Police Department Capt. Greg Bello said.
The home is in the city's Maplewood Historic District, about three miles northwest of downtown.
Here's what to know about his parents, their child, and what police say took place:
Ohio child dog mauling:6-year-old hospitalized after being restrained, attacked by pit bull, police say
Who are baby Sulamain Hawkins Jr.'s parents?
According to police, the boy’s 19-year-old mother and father, Anastasia Weaver and Sulamain Hawkins Sr., spent the night in the unfinished attic of the multi-family residence.
The family did not live in the home but were known to the occupants and occasionally stayed there, Bello said.
About 1 p.m. on the day of the attack, the baby's parents allegedly left the infant sleeping on the floor in the attic while they went downstairs to smoke marijuana, leaving the two "pit bull type" dogs in the attic with the child, Bello said.
When the parents returned, police said, they found the child unresponsive from the dog mauling.
'We brought closure':Boy, 8, found dead in pond near his family's North Carolina home
What happened to the baby mauled to death in Rochester?
The baby suffered "severe trauma" to his body and was taken to a hospital, where he died several hours later, police said.
After the child's death, Rochester Animal Services euthanized the dogs involved.
What are Sulamain Hawkins Jr's parents charged with
Both Weaver and Sulamain Hawkins Sr. were taken into custody on Wednesday and later charged with second-degree manslaughter, police said.
Both parents were booked into jail, Monroe County Jail records show, where they were being held on $15,000 bond.
The couple was arraigned Thursday in Rochester City Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges, WHAM-TV reported.
"This is not a case where a mom puts down a baby on a bed to go to the bathroom or to quickly tend to another child that was in crisis," the outlet reported Assistant District Attorney Sara VanStrydonck said during the hearing. "The allegations here are we feel support the recklessness that a reasonable person in these defendant’s situations would have no acted the way they did."
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (91186)
Related
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- The Truth About Marilyn Monroe's Final Hours and More Devastating Details in The Unheard Tapes
- The Truth About Marilyn Monroe's Final Hours and More Devastating Details in The Unheard Tapes
- Biden allows limited Ukrainian strikes inside Russia using U.S.-provided weapons
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- Man accused of killing nursing student Laken Riley pleads not guilty in Georgia court
- Bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to a shrine in India plunges down 150-foot gorge, killing 22 people
- Columbus Crew hopes altitude training evens the odds in Concacaf Champions Cup final
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- Summer Nail Trends for 2024: Shop the Best Nail Polish Colors to Pack for Vacation
Ranking
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- Nelly Korda among shocking number of big names who miss cut at 2024 U.S. Women's Open
- Annapolis Pride Parade taking new route with 'Project Runway' winner Christian Siriano at head
- Downtown Atlanta water service disrupted, forcing business closings, water boil notice
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- Boy Meets World's William Daniels Has a Mini Cast Reunion With His Favorite Students
- Former General Hospital star Johnny Wactor shot and killed in downtown LA, family says
- Jennifer Lopez cancels 2024 tour This Is Me: 'Completely heartsick and devastated'
Recommendation
Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
13-year-old girl dies after being pulled from Discovery Cove pool in Orlando
Biden addresses Trump verdict for first time
Is Trump still under a gag order after his conviction? He thinks so, but the answer isn’t clear
New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
Mike Tyson's medical scare postpones his boxing match with Jake Paul
Taylor Momsen Shares Terrifying Moment She Was Bitten by Bat During Concert
Champions League final: Real Madrid’s European kings are so good, Ancelotti wants them to be studied