Community seeks answers for toddler mauled by dogs

West Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - The vicious attack of a toddler has left family, friends, neighbors and perfect strangers wondering if this tragedy could have been prevented and whether the particular breed of dog is to blame.

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The little girl was visiting her aunt at her home on Leete Street in West Haven when the incident happened. She was killed as a result of the attack.

The toddler's aunt Erica Hobdy says she loved her niece like she were her own daughter. She says she babysat her before with the dogs kept in another room, so why this time was different and how the dogs got out are the questions she says will haunt her for the rest of her life.

"I gave her lunch, gave her a bath, I layed with her when she fell asleep," said Hobdy. "When I went to get my son something from the store I told him just to listen for her because the only thing I was worried about was her waking up and seeing no one upstairs with her and start crying.

The last thing she thought could happen, happened, her niece, 20-month-old Nevaeh, woke up crying because the three pitbulls had somehow got out of the bedroom and were mauling her to death.

"Just none of this would have dawned on me in a million years," said Hobdy. "And she was with me, I was the last one with her, I babysat her that day so it's hard for me."

And, of course, hard for the toddler's mother and father who Hobdy says are grieving with her. She says she keeps thinking about how that door was opened, after all she had kept her pitbulls behind closed doors many times before, but she knows that's an answer she'll never get.

"Everyone is cautious and safe in my house," said Hobdy. "Even if I have my friends upstairs, adults, my dogs are in my room so I don't let my dogs out I don't let them roam my house the only time that they roam my house free is when it's just me and my kids upstairs because we're their family, they know us."

For resident Sean Patterson, who lives one floor below the apartment where the attack took place, it was a moment he'll never forget.

"I was in my room and I heard the screams and I came outside and I saw the kids," said Patterson. "By the time I made it upstairs I saw the baby lying there."

The girl was unconscious by the time he and other neighbors got to the apartment. She was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

"It's gruesome," said Patterson, "honestly I have my own child so it really was a bad thing."

When police arrived on the scene they removed the dogs. They were euthanized later that night.

Family friend Robert Rios says both the toddler's mother and aunt are devastated and are helping each other get through the tragedy. He also had a message for anyone quick to point fingers at the aunt.

"People like that need to just pray," Rios said. "No one knows what happened. It was a terrible accident"

The Medical Examiners Office has ruled the death as accidental.

The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact West Haven Police Detective Anthony Simone at 203-937-3900.