A three-year-old girl was mauled to death by family dogs while visiting her father’s Cincinnati apartment during the Christmas holiday, authorities said.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Kingsley Renee Wright, who died on December 27, 2024, in Cincinnati’s Roselawn neighborhood, approximately 10 miles north of downtown. The attack occurred around 8 a.m. while Wright was asleep on the living room couch.
Wright’s father discovered her body and immediately called emergency services. “I just woke up and my daughter is dead,” he told the 911 dispatcher. “There’s blood everywhere; I don’t know what happened. I don’t understand what went on.” He reported that the dogs were in their cages when he made the discovery.
Cincinnati police officers who arrived at the Stillwell Road residence were directed to turn off their body cameras because of the gruesome nature of Wright’s injuries. At the scene, officers radioed for animal care to respond and secure the dogs.
Cincinnati Animal CARE responded and removed two dogs from the home, described as terriers weighing over 100 pounds each. The animals are currently under a mandatory 10-day bite quarantine at a local shelter, as required by Ohio law.
Gina Smith, the child’s mother, who had spoken with her daughter the evening before, expressed disbelief about the situation. Speaking through tears, Smith insisted she would never have permitted her daughter near dangerous dogs and pleaded for explanations about the circumstances of her daughter’s death.
The Cincinnati Police Department’s homicide unit has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wright’s death. While no arrests have been made, detectives are working to determine how the dogs, which were reportedly caged, came into contact with the child.
Wright was born on July 7, 2021, in Wilmington, Ohio, where she lived with her mother. She is survived by her mother Gina Smith, and her brothers Devin and Bradley Smith.
The Wilmington and Cincinnati communities have rallied around Wright’s family, creating memorial decals and a commemorative throw blanket. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist with funeral expenses. The fundraising campaign has raised over $3,000.
This incident marks Ohio’s second fatal dog attack in 2024, following the death of six-year-old Jaxson Dvorak in July. The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that 4.5 million people in America suffer dog bites annually, with children representing the highest risk group for such attacks.
