PINELLAS COUNTY — On Oct. 5, Khloe Williams, just 7-months-old lost her life in a horrific dog attack.
Homicide detectives investigating death of 7-month-old killed by foster family's dog
Mother of 7-month-old baby killed by dog asks for independent investigation
The Sixth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s office told ABC Action News, they "found insufficient evidence to prove criminal negligence in the mauling death of Khloe Williams.”
According to a report by the Florida Department of Children and Families, the foster grandma identified as Pamela Maser went into the kitchen to prepare a bottle for Khloe.
During that time the family dog, “Lynnie,” began “barking and scratching to get out of her crate. Thinking the dog needed to go outside, Mrs. Maser placed Khloe in her car seat, then placed the car seat on the couch so that she could let the dog outside. As soon as she opened the crate, however, the dog ran by her and jumped on Khloe. Mrs. Maser pried the dog’s mouth open and put her outside.”
Days after the attack, Khloe’s biological mom, Shavon Grossman called for an independent investigation. The licensed foster parent that was taking care of her daughter is a detective with the Clearwater Police Department.
Grossman’s attorney, Nioti Koulianos, says the final investigation conducted by law enforcement was not “flawed.” Koulianos told ABC Action News reporter Michael Paluska he doesn’t “think it was handled correctly by Bernie McCabe. There is a culture in the State Attorney's office of protecting police and police families,” Koulianos said.
During the investigation Clearwater Chief of Police Daniel Slaughter told the family his office conducted a thorough investigation and if he "felt in any way his staff was acting in a way that was inappropriate or that I felt my staff was not doing their job, I would make a phone call to either the sheriff or FDLE immediately.”
Khloe was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The DCF report says “Mrs. Maser and her husband had adopted the dog earlier in the year and that prior to the adoption, the dog passed an aggression/temperament test.”
Koulianos said other statutes or charges could be brought on against Maser. He specifically cited Florida statue 767.136 that pertains to an attack or bite by an unclassified dog that causes severe injury or death.
The statute states, “If a dog that has not been declared dangerous attacks and causes severe injury to, or the death of, a human, and the owner of the dog had knowledge of the dog’s dangerous propensities, yet demonstrated a reckless disregard for such propensities under the circumstances, the owner of the dog commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.”
Koulianos said the family was aware of previous incidents involving their dog.
The dog was euthanized days after the Oct. 5 attack.
