Ohio mom who let her boyfriend's pitbull maul her 6-month-old baby to death sentenced to 3 years in prison

An Ohio woman has been sentenced to three years in prison, the maximum possible, after her 6-month-old baby was mauled to death by her boyfriend’s pit bull when he left the baby alone with the dog, despite knowing of the animal's history of aggressive behavior. 

Alyssa Smith, 33, was sentenced after admitting to felony child endangerment after the April 2024 death of Royal Bates, her son he had with live-in boyfriend Blake Bates in Marion County, per the Daily Mail.

Prosecutors said Smith and Bates left the child alone with the dog, Kilo, despite both knowing that the animal had a history of aggressive behavior. Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan said, "The sentence, handed down by Common Pleas Court Judge Todd Anderson, followed a presentation of the evidence by prosecutors - where they laid out the horrific details of the infant's death and Smith's recklessness."

Grogan added, "This outcome stems from the indictment of Smith after she left their baby unsupervised with a young child and the pit bull nearby, allowing the aggressive dog to attack the infant." The infant was pronounced dead at the hospital after the dog bit into the baby’s skull. The dog was put down. 

"This sentence holds a mother accountable for failing her infant in the most tragic way," Grogan continued. "Smith's actions in ignoring the dog's history showed a pattern of irresponsibility that cost baby Royal his life."

Bates has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the incident. His next court date is scheduled for October 27. Grogan said he plans to seek a lengthy sentence for Bates as well as additional charges like fourth-degree felony strangulation of a former partner and third-degree felony escape while in custody.

Grogan said, "The evidence showed Bates ignored warnings about the dog's aggression after it previously attacked a neighborhood child. Months later, the vicious pit bull was left near the unsupervised infant, leading to the fatal attack that gripped the community and highlighted the dangers of negligent pet ownership."

"This guilty plea holds Bates accountable for a preventable horror that stole an innocent baby's life. Bates knew his pit bull was dangerous, yet he gambled with this baby's safety – recklessness that demands severe consequences."

An obituary stated that the infant "loved his big sister, and he always woke up with a smile."