ORANGE, TX. (THECOUNT) — A one-month-old girl has died after suffering severe injuries consistent with wounds caused by a dog at a residence in Orange County, Texas, where investigators say a pit bull-Akita mixed-breed dog was located and has since been quarantined.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to the 4300 block of Bertie Street, north of Vidor, at approximately 2:53 a.m. Saturday after receiving a report that an infant at the residence was not breathing.
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When deputies arrived, they found the infant suffering from severe injuries to her body. Deputies and emergency medical personnel immediately began lifesaving measures, but despite their efforts, the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.
Orange County Sheriff Bobby Smith told KFDM that the nature of the infant’s injuries is consistent with wounds caused by a dog. Smith identified the animal found inside the home as a mixed breed that is part pit bull and part Akita.
The sheriff’s office Criminal Investigation Division has launched an investigation into the infant’s death. Investigators have processed the residence as a crime scene, collected evidence and interviewed family members as authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
The dog located inside the residence has been quarantined while the investigation continues. Authorities have not indicated whether investigators have determined exactly how the injuries occurred or whether additional factors contributed to the infant’s death.
Orange County Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Chad Jenkins has ordered an autopsy. The examination is expected to provide additional information as investigators work to determine the official cause and manner of death.
Because the investigation remains active, authorities have not released additional details about the infant’s injuries, the circumstances immediately preceding the 911 call or the relationship between the child and the dog.
Sheriff Smith said investigators are in the early stages of the case and that additional information will be released when it becomes available. He also expressed condolences to the family and others affected by the infant’s death.
The fatal incident occurred in Orange County, located in Southeast Texas along the Louisiana border. Bertie Street is north of Vidor, a community situated along Interstate 10 between Beaumont and the Louisiana state line.
Google Maps: Approximate location of the 4300 block of Bertie Street near Vidor, Texas
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