‘This has got to be a [expletive] nightmare’: 911 call played in toddler's mauling death

A canine expert, forensic pathologist, and homicide detective took the stand on the third day of trial for a local man charged in his daughter’s mauling death.

Some of the testimony was graphic.

The forensic pathologist conducted the autopsy on 3-year-old Kingsley Wright for Hamilton County’s coroner. She said Kingsley suffered massive blood loss, which contributed to her death. Detectives say the toddler was attacked by two dogs belonging to her father, Warren Houston.

The pathologist said the child suffered significant trauma to her head, noting puncture wounds on the girl’s scalp, neck, and face. Wright’s death was ruled accidental.

When the homicide detective testified, prosecutors played the 911 call and asked him to walk through it.

“What could you hear Mr. Houston saying?” said assistant prosecuting attorney Chris Lipps.

“Her mom is gonna kill me,” said Detective Jeff Smallwood.

“This has got to be a [expletive] nightmare. This has got to be a [expletive] nightmare. I can't. She trusted me with this girl baby,” Houston said on the 911 call.

The dogs that attacked Kingsley were kept in a single cage.

Canine expert Michael Pennington said those conditions could have created anxiety and competition between them, increasing the likelihood of aggressive behavior. The expert also told the judge that a defective latch and a gap in the door created a risk for the toddler.

“They were on the couch. Cookie was just kind of sitting there, almost kind of looking at Chevy of what that dog was doing to the victim,” Pennington said. “One dog's pulling one way, another dog's going another way. So again, by being in a single crate, you raise that competition, their desire to want to compete, because they're always beside each other. And now when they get out, they have a chance to do that.”

Houston’s defense attorney, Tad Brittingham, argued that the expert had never met the two dogs and was unaware of any steps taken to introduce them to the toddler. Brittingham asked the judge to strike the expert’s testimony, but the judge denied the motion.

Prosecutors anticipate having two more witnesses testify before resting their case on Thursday.
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Видео ‘This has got to be a [expletive] nightmare’: 911 call played in toddler's mauling death канала LOCAL 12