Babysitter charged after 1-year-old boy mauled to death by her pit bulls: ‘A tug-of-war for the baby’

A 1-year-old boy was viciously mauled to death by a pack of pit bulls in Texas after the babysitter in charge of watching him left him alone with her teenage daughter, according to police.

Baby Jiryiah Johnson was attacked early Monday after babysitter Heather Rodriguez, 36, left him with her 13-year-old daughter and the three dogs in their home in Converse, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters.

One of the pit bulls busted through a bedroom door and began tearing at the baby as the teen girl tried to protect him, with the two other dogs then joining in, News4SA reported.

“The 13-year-old was able to maintain control of the baby, but at this point, it was being described to me as almost a tug-of-war for the baby between at least one of the dogs and the little girl,” Salazar said.

The teen took the baby to a bathroom to try and save him, but the dogs were able to get in there too. After grabbing her phone to call police, the teen made her way to another bedroom, barricading the door with her body until help arrived — with photos showing how the dogs ripped large chunks off the door.

Heather Rodriguez, 36, was supposed to be babysitting the 1-year-old. Bexar County Jail)

The dogs chewed through the bedroom door. Bexar County Sheriff’s Office

The young teen also suffered several bite wounds.

“I’ve got to be honest, the 13-year-old in this instance is absolutely – I’m considering her a hero,” Salazar said. 

Jiryiah was bitten on the neck and face and was rushed by first responders to a local hospital where he underwent emergency surgeries. He succumbed to his injuries just before 9:30 p.m. Monday at University Hospital of San Antonio, the sheriff said in an update Tuesday.

Rodriguez was arrested and charged with injury to a child with serious bodily injury by omission, a first-degree felony, and remains at the Bexar County Jail. She could face additional charges for the injuries to her daughter, officials said.

The three dogs were seized by authorities, despite Rodgriguez’s protests.

The dogs were seized by authorities. SBG San Antonio
Rodriguez has been charged with serious bodily injury to a child by omission, a first-degree felony. SBG San Antonio

“For her to be more concerned with the dogs that have proven to be involved in the attack, she is more concerned about keeping them from us? That is cause for concern. It will definitely be taken into consideration when we decide what to do with this (woman) moving forward,” Salazar said.

The fatal attack was not the first time police had responded to Rodriguez’s residence about her dogs, according to News4SA

Rodriguez was cited by police for having her dogs unleashed after they trapped an individual in their car. She was allowed to keep her dogs after that incident.