Introduction to the Case
The parents of a 1-month-old baby girl who was killed in October after she was attacked by a dog at a Torrance home face one felony charge of willful cruelty on a child causing death after it was learned the dog that attacked the girl previously had attacked and killed pets on the property, according to officials and court documents.
Background of the Incident
Genna Lara Magliocco, 39, and Charles Franklin Womack, 54, were aware of the previous attacks, but told detectives they did not report them to animal control officials, and detectives believe they did not take any measures, including removing the dog from the property, to prevent the dog from attacking again, detectives wrote in a trio of search warrants in relation to the investigation.
Arrest and Charges
The couple was taken into custody last week, nearly five months after the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed the case against Magliocco and Womack following the Oct. 8 death of their daughter, Chevy. They both pleaded not guilty to the charge in Torrance Superior Court on Tuesday.
Investigation Details
In search warrant documents recently reviewed by the Southern California News Group, Torrance police detectives wrote that three adult dogs were seized at the home in the 2700 block of Martha Avenue and that one of them, a 3-year-old pitbull mix named Rambo, was believed to have jumped through a window into a back house and attacked the child. The search warrants were requested to search the couple’s cellphones, a laptop and to obtain evidence from the dogs while they were at a Gardena animal shelter.
Previous Incidents
Magliocco and Womack, who lived in a back house to the rear of the property, detailed for police previous incidents in which Rambo attacked two cats inside the front house of the property and, along with two other pitbull mixes, attacked a small dog in the backyard. All three of those animals died, the detectives learned. Based on those statements, detectives wrote they believed Magliocco and Womack knew Rambo was a “potentially dangerous” dog and failed to remove the dog, as well as the other two female adult dogs deemed “mischievous” from the home, the documents show.
Events Surrounding the Attack
Magliocco told detectives she was in the laundry room and Womack said he was in a bathroom when the dog somehow got inside and attacked the baby while she was in a bassinet in the middle of their bedroom, the documents show. The dog was no longer in the house by the time they arrived to find the baby bloodied on the floor. Magliocco told detectives she attempted to call 911 from her phone, but claimed the calls weren’t going through, the documents show, so she grabbed Womack’s phone from a nearby shed. Womack told police he took the baby into the front house and attempted CPR after laying her down on an ottoman, the documents show. Both parents said they did not witness the attack.
Medical Examination and Evidence
Police were called about 12:35 p.m. that day and arrived to find blood in the back house consistent with an assault, the detectives wrote. Blood evidence was also allegedly found on Rambo. Detectives later learned from the medical examiner that the baby suffered a fractured skull and a large laceration to the back of her head, as well as injuries to the back of her neck, ribs, lungs and liver, the documents show. A doctor who treated the baby at the hospital also questioned the amount of time before the couple called 911 “based on Victim’s low body temperature.”
Conclusion
The case against Magliocco and Womack highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and the need for immediate action when an animal poses a danger to others. The tragic loss of their child could have potentially been prevented if the parents had taken the necessary steps to address the dog’s previous aggressive behavior. The community awaits the outcome of the trial, hoping that justice will be served for the victim and her family.
FAQs
- Q: What was the cause of the baby’s death?
A: The baby was killed in a dog attack at her home in Torrance. - Q: Did the parents know about the dog’s previous aggressive behavior?
A: Yes, according to court documents, the parents were aware of the dog’s previous attacks on other animals. - Q: What charges are the parents facing?
A: The parents, Genna Lara Magliocco and Charles Franklin Womack, are facing one felony charge of willful cruelty on a child causing death. - Q: What is the current status of the case?
A: Magliocco and Womack have pleaded not guilty to the charge and are being held in jail on bail. - Q: What can be learned from this incident?
A: The importance of responsible pet ownership and taking immediate action when an animal poses a danger to others.
