Parents, grandparents charged after 7-day-old baby mauled to death by family dog

HUNTINGTON COUNTY, Ind. (WPTA/Gray News) - A 7-day-old Indiana boy died
last year after being attacked by a dog named Chomp. Now, several of the
baby’s family members are facing charges in his death. 

Six people are facing charges after 7-day-old day old Jason A. Weaver
was mauled to death by a family dog named Chomp on Sept. 4, 2025. They

The baby’s father, Austin Kinsey (two counts of neglect and one count of
harboring a non-immunized dog that injured someone); The baby’s mother,
Violet Weaver (one count of neglect); The baby’s grandfather, Timothy
Kinsey (one count of neglect); The baby’s uncle, Tony Kinsey (one count
of neglect); The baby’s step-grandfather, Michael Wickey (one count of
neglect and one count of harboring a non-immunized dog); The baby’s
grandmother, Rita Wickey (one count of neglect and one count of
harboring a non-immunized dog). 

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Six people are now facing charges in connection with the death of a
7-day-old infant police say was killed by a family dog in September last
year.(Huntington County Jail) 

On the day of the incident, police were dispatched to a home in Markle
for reports of a dog attacking a baby who was having trouble breathing.
When they arrived, one officer noted a “strong odor of animal, trash,
and dirt everywhere in the home,” according to court records. 

The officer attempted CPR until medics arrived and took over caring for
the infant. 

An autopsy later showed more than 180 abrasions and several bruises on
the boy’s head, neck, torso, back and limbs. It also uncovered major
internal injuries like brain hemorrhages, rib fractures and tears in the
lungs. 

During interviews with family members, police learned Jason’s father,
Austin Kinsey, was playing video games when he briefly left the room to
talk to his mother and his son’s mother, court records say. 

Soon after, Jason’s grandfather, Timothy Kinsey, burst through the door
with the baby in his arms, telling them to call for an ambulance. He
later explained that he was in the kitchen when he heard Jason making
noises and saw Chomp dragging the infant. He took the baby to Rita
Wickey‘s room for help. 

Family members described Chomp as being gentle with Jason, saying he
would rock the baby’s bouncer and “love” on him, court documents show.
But they also said he was a jealous dog who was often aggressive toward
other animals and had bitten people before. 

After one such incident, Rita Wickey told someone who has not been
charged in the case that he could carry a gun in the house to shoot
Chomp if there were any further issues, court records say. 

Court documents also detail the house being filled with bugs, including
some in Jason’s car seat, as well as trash, dirty dishes and dirty
clothes. 

“There were so much trash and debris, officers could barely walk through
the home,” one officer wrote. “I also observed numerous cockroaches and
flying bugs on the walls, floor, ceiling, and doorways.” 

Shortly after Jason died, someone from the Huntington County Health
Department determined the home was not fit for people to live in and
ordered them to vacate by Sept. 8. 

Chomp and other dogs were taken from the home after the incident.

Court records say that while he was at the Huntington County Animal
Shelter, Chomp showed no aggression or signs of rabies. He was later
euthanized. 

After a necropsy was performed, a veterinarian found no internal or
external abnormalities. It also noted the dog was “in an ideal body
condition with no underlying medical conditions.” 

All six of the people charged in the case are being held at the
Huntington County Jail. 

https://www.kctv5.com/2026/06/16/parents-grandparents-charged-after-7-day
-old-baby-mauled-death-by-family-dog/