Williamson County Sheriff Tom Cundiff said on Tuesday that the three dogs taken from the home of Gabrial Mandrell-Sauerhage near Johnston City were destroyed via euthanasia.
The dogs’ owners Michelle Sweeney and David Robinson wanted the dogs destroyed the night of the incident that claimed the child's life, but investigators held the dogs at Williamson County Animal Control until the investigation was complete.
It appears that more than one dog was involved in the incident, and that it may have started over a stuffed animal that was found in the yard, believed to have been brought out by Garbrial, when he left his bedroom through the open window.
The home did not have air conditioning and there were numerous box fans running at the time of the incident. The adults in the house were also on the opposite end and opposite side of the house from where the incident occurred. These combined factors would have made it very hard for the adults in the house to hear anything outside.
It is also reported that one of the injuries sustained to Gabrial would have made yelling impossible.
No aggression had ever been shown to any family member from any of the three dogs.
The investigation determined that the death was accidental
