Jace Valdez, 16-months old, was killed by a pit bull while visiting his grandmother.
Father Issues Statement
UPDATE 01/19/12: The father of little boy killed by a pit bull last weekend, Jeremy Valdez, has issued a statement about his son's death. The child had been in his sole care and custody for over the past year. Baby Jace, however, had been visiting his mother for the week where she lives with her parents in Montgomery County. The child's grandmother, who was hospitalized for shock after the attack, is the owner of the pit bull and was the only adult present during the incident.
Portion of Jeremy's Statement
Jeremy Valdez is deeply saddened from the tragic loss of his 16 month old son, Jace Paul Valdez, from the pit bull attack which occurred Saturday evening. Baby Jace had been in Mr. Valdez’s sole care and custody for over the past year; however the child was visiting his mother for the week where she resides with her parents at their home in Montgomery County and where the attack occurred.
While Mr. Valdez has been informed that baby Jace was left alone and unsupervised in the presence of the pit bull, he is uncertain of many of the details surrounding the events. Detectives are still investigating the facts of that night and whether or not criminal charges will be brought, if any, against any of the residents of the household where the fatality occurred.
In the honor of the life of his son, Mr. Valdez, with the assistance of Wells Fargo Bank, has created a Memorial Fund to help with costs associated with the burial and funeral of Baby Jace. Proceeds from the fund will also go to help support the raising of awareness of the risks associated with leaving small children alone in the presence of large animals. Donations of any amount can be made to the Jace Paul Valdez Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo banking branch. Existing customers of Wells Fargo can make donations via online by logging-on and donating to account number #1815588239 under the charitable contributions section on the website.
01/15/12: Mauling Investigation Continues
Magnolia, TX - On Saturday evening, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to a fatal pit bull mauling in the 27000 block of Medina Circle. Lt. Dan Norris told reporter Scott Engle, "When deputies arrived, they found that a one-year old male child had been mauled to death inside the home by a male family pit bull. When deputies tried to control the dog, the dog turned and lunged at one of the deputies. The deputies had to shoot and kill the dog inside the home."1
The west Montgomery County home where the incident occurred belonged to the deceased baby's grandparents. At the time of the attack, the grandmother had been in the home with the child. The 45-year old grandmother was not injured by the dog, but due to emotional trauma, she was taken away by ambulance to a local hospital. Authorities have not yet located the mother of the baby and it is still unknown, which adults -- the parents or grandparents -- owned the dog.
The mother and child, Jace Valdez, had reportedly recently moved in with the grandparents.
View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Texas Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.Related articles:
10/05/11: 2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Amarillo Newborn Killed by Family Pit Bull-Mix
09/05/11: 2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Two-Week Old Baby Killed by Family Pit Bull-Mix
01/15/10: Grandmother Charged in Fatal Pit Bull Mauling Dies Before Trial
09/02/09: Grandmother and Mother Charged in 2007 Death of Seth Lovitt
This boy was the 20th Texan to die from a Pit Bull attack since Lillian Stiles was killed back in 2005. Lillian's law coupled with the BSL Pre-emption is a public safety FAILURE.
Pit Breeders have zero accountability and absolutely no incentive to produce safe dogs.
Pop and I watched tv until 11:30pm last night and I got up said – It's Jan 15, It's time for another Pit Bull Mauling Death – I better go check e-mails – I'm hoping against hope that there want be any e-mails giving us information on more attacks…..but here it is…..another death…now we wait to find out the little boy's name…and then we hope and pray there's not another one after this one….but I don't hold my breath !!!
Seth Lovitt's Pit-Grannie gets a slap on the wrist:
http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?s=63524
BELTON — A Dallas woman whose pit bull killed her grandson while they lived in Killeen received probation Thursday.
Brenda Ellen Parker, 51, received five years of deferred adjudication and 200 hours of community service. Parker previously pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide.
TEXAS PIT ATTACKS…THE PERFECT CRIME!!!
Name of the victim released….Ruled an "Accident" despite being the 35th Texan killed by a Pit Bull since 1980!
23-month-old Jace Paul Valdez
http://www.kbtx.com/local/headlines/Identity_of_Toddler_Mauled_to_Death_By_Pit_Bull_Released_137543178.html
My heart goes out to Jeremy. How horrible. And I put myself in the grandmother's shoes, what it would be like to watch your grandchild being eaten alive. I can't describe the intense emotions that overcame me. I understand why she went into shock. However, I wonder if part of the reason she went into shock was guilt.
I also do not think that the problem is leaving children alone with large dogs, although that is never a good idea. Pit bulls attack children even when there are plenty of adults around, and their presence matters not. They can't save the child from the jaws of the beast even when they are standing right there.
I do hope charges will be brought against them.
May Jace rest in peace.
Interesting comment from the "Memorial Fund" article:
All though this may seem like it is for a good cause, I happen to know the father Jeremy. He just withdrew $1000 from this account today and proceeded to get his son's name tattooed on his chest. This fund is a scam unfortunately and he will use the money for what he wants and it will not go to Jace or any awareness fund. Our family is going through a terrible loss and it is unfortunate that he is using this to gain money. It makes it even worse when the Grandmother and Grandfather are trying to save money for a head stone. Very sad
Maybe NCRC could send the Grandparents a "Nanny Headstone" Grant?!?
Shame on you Montgomery Sheriffs office…..this lady has a long police history!! And please do tell us what drugs were in her system….when she got to Hermann Memorial hospital!