A seven-day-old baby in Indiana, United States, was mauled to death by the family’s pet dog after suffering more than 180 bite wounds, according to authorities and court records.
The infant, identified by the Huntington County Coroner’s Office as Jason Anthony Weaver, died in September 2025 after being attacked by a five-year-old husky-pit bull mix named Chomp at a home on Miller Street in Markle, Indiana.
Jason was reportedly in the home when his father, Austin Kinsey, briefly left the room. Court records cited by local broadcaster WPTA said Kinsey had been playing video games in the room with the baby before leaving to speak with other family members.
The baby’s grandfather, Timothy Kinsey, later heard the infant making noises and entered the room, where he reportedly found Chomp dragging the baby. Emergency responders were called, and an officer attempted to perform CPR before paramedics arrived.
Jason was taken to a Fort Wayne hospital but could not be saved.
An autopsy found more than 180 abrasions and multiple bruises on the infant’s head, neck, torso, back and limbs. The examination also revealed severe internal injuries, including brain haemorrhages, fractured ribs and tears to the lungs.
The condition of the family home also became part of the subsequent investigation. Court records described the property as containing large amounts of trash, dirty dishes and clothes, with bugs reportedly found throughout the house, including on the baby’s car seat. The Huntington County Health Department later determined that the residence was unfit for habitation and ordered the occupants to leave.
Investigators said family members had described Chomp as gentle with the baby but acknowledged that the dog could be jealous, had previously displayed aggression toward other animals and had bitten people before.
Following the incident, Chomp and other dogs were removed from the property. The dog was later euthanised.
The baby’s father, Austin Kinsey, was initially charged with two counts of neglect and a charge relating to harbouring a non-immunised dog that caused an injury.
Under a plea agreement, the most serious neglect charge was dismissed in exchange for a conviction on a lesser charge and a 16-year prison sentence, which was imposed on September 14, 2026.
Jason’s mother, Violet Weaver, and several other relatives also face charges connected to the case. Court proceedings involving Weaver and other family members remain ongoing.
The case, which dates back to September 2025, has drawn renewed attention following Kinsey’s sentencing nearly a year after the infant’s death.