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Oh, Brilliant: 'Baby Mauled by Dogs While Parents Puff Away' — Priorities on Point!
Oh, just another day in paradise! While you were worrying about your latte order, Anastasia Weaver and Sulamain Hawkins Sr. were too busy letting their dogs babysit. Now, their baby is tragically gone, and they're facing manslaughter charges. But hey, who needs parenting skills when you can just blame it on the 'nanny' dogs, right?
Published August 23, 2024 at 12:23pm by Natalie Neysa Alund
Woefully Irresponsible Parents Charged in Infant's Dog Mauling Death
In a tragic example of breathtaking incompetence, the parents of a 3-year-old baby mauled to death by at least one dog in upstate New York have been charged with manslaughter. The insanity took place in an unfinished attic of a Rochester home, because, of course, where else do tragedies happen?
A Deep Dive into the Parental Negligence
Sulamain Hawkins Jr. was mauled on Aug. 3 while sleeping in the attic of a residence on Bidwell Terrace, according to Rochester Police Department Capt. Greg Bello. Because why not leave your child alone with dogs in an unfinished attic? Seems like a great idea, right?
Who Are These Parents, Exactly?
The boy’s 19-year-old parents, Anastasia Weaver and Sulamain Hawkins Sr., had the audacity to leave their sleeping infant on the attic floor while they went downstairs to smoke weed. Let's pause to appreciate the brilliance of this plan.
Theinevitable Outcome
When the irresponsible duo returned, they found their child unresponsive from the dog mauling. Surprise, surprise. The baby suffered "severe trauma" and later died at the hospital. To add insult to injury, Rochester Animal Services swiftly euthanized the dogs involved.
The Charges They Deserve
Both Weaver and Sulamain Hawkins Sr. were taken into custody and charged with second-degree manslaughter. They're being held on a $15,000 bond, according to Monroe County Jail records. The couple pleaded not guilty during their arraignment in Rochester City Court, WHAM-TV reported.
"This is not a case where a mom puts down a baby on a bed to go to the bathroom or to quickly tend to another child that was in crisis," Assistant District Attorney Sara VanStrydonck said, because apparently, that needs to be clarified.
Stay Woke, Folks
In summary, don’t be like these parents. Be better. Protect your children. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t leave them in an unfinished attic with dogs while you go smoke weed.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Read more: Parents charged after baby fatally mauled by dogs; pair accused of leaving baby to smoke