KY - Couple lies about 10-month child being mauled by stray dog; hides their own dog from police - March 16, 2024

[Clearsky]

Kentucky State Police

Public Affairs Website for Kentucky State Police.

www.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov

As a result of the investigation, Emily McKinney, age 27 of Russell Springs, was arrested and charged with the following charges:

• Criminal Abuse 1st Degree – Child 12 or Under
• Endangering the Welfare of a Minor
• False Report Which Generates an Emergency Response

Joe Johnson, age 30 of Russell Springs, was also placed under arrest and charged with the following charges:

• Tampering with Physical Evidence
• False Report Which Generates an Emergency Response

 

[nao]

Moo...not so much about these people caring more for their dog. If it was a stray they wouldn't be responsible..but...if their own dog attacked when not being supervised or the dog has aggression or is possessive...they are going to be up for neglect at minimum....moo

 

[nao]

Moo...guess it was the mother wasn't keeping child safe...abuse and endangerment
Father tampering with evidence

 

[borndem]

Moo...
Agreed, @nao.
"Serious injuries." Hmmm, apparently serious enuff that the child had to be taken from the Russell County Hospital to the University of Kentucky Hospital for treatment of the child's injuries -- that sounds serious. The child was 10 months old.
Where were the parents when this attack was happening?
Hoping the baby is healing from those injuries -- and hoping that the dog will no longer be around ever again. Grrrrr.

 

[borndem]

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A bit about Russell Springs, KY - -
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Russell Springs is a home rule-class city in Russell County, Kentucky, in the United States. The city is the gateway to Lake Cumberland, one of the largest man-made lakes in the region, created by Wolf Creek Dam. It is the largest city in the county, having a population of 2,441 during the year 2010 U.S. Census. Wikipedia
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[mickey2942]

So, the family dog mauled the baby, and the parents are protecting the DOG?! This story is SO crazy I had to work it out in my head. I still can't believe it.

Send that baby to a safe place, stat. Put down the dog, stat. And put the dog lovers in prison, stat.

 

[jbc]

I'd like to know what kind of dog this was. Anybody know?
The vast majority of baby killings/injuries by dogs are from german shepards and pit bulls.
There are published data on this thing.

 

[tlcya]

Moo...not so much about these people caring more for their dog. If it was a stray they wouldn't be responsible..but...if their own dog attacked when not being supervised or the dog has aggression or is possessive...they are going to be up for neglect at minimum....moo

agree, they weren't "protecting" their dog from consequences so much as they were protecting their own sorry butts from neglect charges.

 

[tlcya]

Officials say first responders wasted resources for hours looking for the dog.

The arrest citation says the girl’s biological father told troopers he believed the dog was actually Johnson’s.

The parents’ charges include evidence tampering and child abuse.
Kentucky parents accused of lying about dog attack that sent child to hospital

Three days later, KSP spoke with McKinney and her boyfriend Johnson and determined that the dog that attacked the child was not a stray. It belonged to the couple. KSP reports that Johnson had concealed the location of their dog after the incident, causing local first responders to use resources to search for a stray dog “that did not exist.
Two Russell County people arrested on charge of child abuse

Imagine if a stray dog resembling whatever they described HAD ben located by those who wasted resources looking for one. Would the couple have identified it as the dog that hurt their child? Would they have allowed it to be put down in order to protect their own rear ends?

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

agree, they weren't "protecting" their dog from consequences so much as they were protecting their own sorry butts from neglect charges.

Yikes. Tend to agree but with this caveat. Seems those parents / those charged were protecting: 1) themselves; and 2) their dog.

What they were NOT protecting was their infant child.

Hurts to even read and contemplate this story. As others asked, wonder the breed of the dog. And also have to wonder if CPS or others believe the couple are fit to be parents of a child, or an infant? MOO