Woman arrested for dog attack that killed 2-year-old in Owens Cross Roads

OWENS CROSS ROADS, Ala. (WHNT) — A woman has been charged in connection with a dog attack that killed a two-year-old child in March.

According to the Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), Melissa Phillips, 55, 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 house on TR Christian Road when he was attacked by a neighbor's dog. MCSO responded alongside the New Hope Police Department (NHPD) and the Owens Cross Roads Police Department (OXPD).

Madison County Coroner Tyler Berryhill said the child was a two-year-old boy and suffered fatal bites during the attack.

When officers arrived, MCSO said they began administering life-saving measures to the child, who was later pronounced dead.

While investigating the attack, the sheriff's office found two dogs at a neighbor's home and the dogs were taken away due to their “potential involvement in the attack.” A third dog that authorities believe may have been involved in the attack was down the road.

“The owner of the third dog turned his animal over to law enforcement while the investigation continued. The three dogs suspected in the attack were returned by the owners and recovered by Madison County Animal Control,” MCSO said.

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

A forensic odontologist was able to collect bite prints and rule out the involvement of two of the first 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 Jail and her bond was set at $15,000. MCSO said the investigation is ongoing and could result in additional charges.