*Oklahoma: OK: UPDATED: Teenage mother charged in dog-mauling death of baby * ------------------------------ *OK: UPDATED: Teenage mother charged in dog-mauling death of baby* By BILL BRAUN World Staff Writer 11/4/2008 5:18 PM Last Modified: 11/4/2008 9:36 PM
A teenage mother whose 2-month-old son was killed by a puppy has been charged in Tulsa County Juvenile Court with second-degree manslaughter. Prosecutors on Friday charged Linzy Earles, who turned 18 on Oct. 24, in connection with the July 28 death of her baby, Zane Earles. Because Earles was 17 at the time of the baby's death, the case was filed in juvenile court. Earles is not in custody. Juvenile officials can retain jurisdiction and supervision over a juvenile only until his or her 19th birthday. "The whole case is frustrating," Assistant District Attorney Jake Cain said. "It's a horrible tragedy. It never should have happened." A Tulsa police affidavit states that the boy "suffered multiple dog bites" and was "eaten alive" at his grandparents' home in the 2900 block of East 102nd Street. While in the care of his mother at that residence, Zane "was left unattended in an infant swing on the opposite side of the house for approximately two hours," the affidavit asserts. Linzy Earles went to sleep in her bedroom, and a black Labrador puppy "that was left loose in the house ate the two-month-old victim," the police affidavit states. In response to a records request filed by Tulsa World, Chief Juvenile Judge Doris Fransein on Tuesday authorized the release of juvenile court records and law enforcement records involving Earles. By statute, the confidentiality requirements of juvenile records do not apply to arrest records of a juvenile arrested for committing an act that would be a felony if committed by an adult. Fransein's order states that Earles was previously adjudicated as a delinquent child. A police affidavit states that Earles "has had a history of drug abuse and she was just taken off probation on June 2" in a drug-related matter. Second-degree manslaughter involves an accusation of "culpable negligence" — an omission to do something that a reasonably careful person would do or failure to use ordinary care and caution. "We feel that if not for her culpable negligence, it would have been prevented," Cain said. The prosecutor indicated that he expects the case to remain in juvenile court. Defense attorney Robert Brown said Earles is heartbroken regarding her child's death. Earles now faces a Dec. 3 appearance in juvenile court. Brown said he did not want to comment in detail regarding the case because "she has her rights of privacy and she is a juvenile." The Labrador was taken to the Tulsa Animal Shelter, where it was euthanized at the request of police so that evidence could be recovered. Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/artic...298_Atee041257<http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081104_298_Atee041257> -- http://votetom4council.webs.com/ http://417-political-pundit.blogspot.com/ www.moliberty.org "lite a fire for a man he'll be warm for a day, lite the man on fire and he'll be warm the rest of his life". Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you! -Pericles (430 B.C.) In fact, there is a direct correlation between loyalty to one's spouse and the "trustworthiness, sincerity, honesty and strength of leadership" required to lead a nation. ~John Edwards~ "no cause is lost if there is but one fool to fight for it" ~Will Turner~ ~Pirate's of the Caribbean @ World's End~ Save your property rights www.mo-cpr.org http://www.radiofreeliberty.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ This is a Free Speech forum. The owner of this list assumes no responsibility for the intellectual or emotional maturity of its members. If you do not like what is being said here, filter it to trash, ignore it or leave. If you leave, learn how to do this for yourself. If you do not, you will be here forever. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
