Pit bull mauling probe concludes
BY MARY PERHAM The Leader

Saben Jones-Abbott

BATH - The investigation by Steuben County Sheriff's deputies into the pit bull mauling death of a Bath boy concluded Tuesday, July 31, but officials declined to say when the results will be made public.

Saben Jones-Abbott, 6, was reportedly mauled late Sunday morning, July 29, by the family pit bull puppy at a family home located at 6943 E. William St. Ext. along Lake Salubria.

Steuben County District Attorney John Tunney issued a statement Tuesday saying his office would not release any information until "all the necessary information is received and reviewed. We are unable to state, with any certainty, when that will be."

Tunney also declined to answer questions on the range of criminal charges that could be filed in any case involving fatal animal attacks on children.

According to early reports by county deputies, the child was feeding the 8-month-old dog when the attack occurred. Deputies reported the boy's father, found him lying unresponsive on the ground near the dog.

An obituary identified the boy's father as William D. Abbott.

Jones-Abbott was later pronounced dead at Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital and taken to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office in Rochester for an autopsy. The pit bull was euthanized at the owner's request and also sent to the medical examiner's office in Rochester.

The results of both autopsies were sent to sheriff's department Tuesday afternoon, but were not made public. Law enforcement officials said a meeting with Tunney was to take place sometime Tuesday to discuss the investigation.

County Deputy Chief Joel Ordway said investigators interviewed family members and neighbors.

Ordway said the boy's mother was not interviewed and declined to say whether she was in the Bath area at the time of the attack. Sommer Jones lives in Florida, according to the obituary for Jones- Abbott.

Ordway also declined to say whether the boy suffered a single bite or multiple wounds. Ordway said Steuben officials will not rush any decision.

"We're not in that much hurry," he said.

There have been no other incidents with the pit bull puppy before the Sunday fatality, Ordway said.

County Attorney Frederick Ahrens Jr. said under civil law, dogs are not included in the "inherently dangerous" class of wildlife such as lions or tigers.

"Dogs are allowed a 'first bite,'" he said "After that they are deemed dangerous."

The tragedy has drawn attention from across the Southern Tier, including the city of Elmira where pit bulls have been an issue for years.

Elmira Police Sgt. Joseph Close said four out of the six animal aggression cases he is now investigating involve pit bulls.

Close said the idea a pit bull can be trained to be a safe pet is a "myth. They are bred to fight to the death… Are they evil? No. They are what they are, what they have been bred by humans to be."