LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Authorities have released the name of the 3-year-old boy who was mauled to death by two family dogs in the Newburg neighborhood.
The boy has been identified as Steven Thornton III, according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office.
The attack happened just before 9 a.m. Tuesday in the 4800 block of Brenda Drive, a subdivision behind Thomas Jefferson Middle School, according to LMPD Spokesperson Dwight Mitchell.
The coroner says the boy's official cause of death was injuries consistent with a dog attack.
Police said the boy was attacked in the backyard by rottweilers that were owned by the family. However, neighbors said the dogs hadn't been living at the home for very long and stayed fenced in the backyard.Â
Those two rottweilers were immediately removed from the home when Louisville Metro Animal Services arrived on scene. LMAS says the dogs will be quarantined at the shelter for a mandatory 10 days before they can be euthanized, but offered no other comment at this time "out of respect for the victim and the grieving family."
"It's a very devastating thing that's happened here, and obviously, our prayers go out to the family of this child," Mitchell said.
Lt. Emily McKinley, of the LMPD Homicide Unit, says an investigation showed the boy had gotten out of the house through an open bedroom window sometime during the overnight hours of Oct. 1, while the rest of the family slept.
Once the boy was in the backyard of the home, he was attacked by the two dogs.
LMPD says the department will review the case with the Commonwealth Attorney, but does not expect to make any arrests.
"Each of our cases are unique and come with their own set of circumstances," McKinley said in a released statement. "Additionally, this investigation is open and ongoing as more information is gathered."
Police say the case will also be turned over to Metro Animal Services for their review and to determine any possible animal-related charges.
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