NEED TO KNOW
- New York City’s Office of the Medical Examiner tells PEOPLE that Kiyanna Winfield, a 1-month-old initially believed to have been killed by a dog mauling, was actually dead before the dog bit her
- The infant was asleep between her parents when her mother allegedly woke to see their 6-month-old pit bull mix gnawing on the child’s face around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday
- The dog was seized by Animal Control, according to the agency’s press office
The New York City medical examiner has determined that a deceased Queens newborn’s injuries were inflicted by the family dog only after the infant had already died — contradicting initial police claims that the dog killed the child.
Police initially believed that 1-month-old Kiyanna Winfield had been killed by her family’s 6-month-old German Shepherd-pit bull mix while she and her parents slept on Tuesday morning in their apartment, PEOPLE previously reported.
But although the animal did bite the child, it did so post-mortem, according to New York City’s Office of the Medical Examiner.
“The cause and manner of death are pending further study and will require additional testing, but the medical examiner has been able to determine this is not a fatal dog mauling,” a spokesperson for the office tells PEOPLE.
Police were called to the Long Island City home on 12th Street near 41st Avenue just after 6:30 a.m. yesterday, per the New York Police Department’s press office.
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The child’s mother told responding officers that she woke to find her dog gnawing her daughter’s face as the baby laid between her and the child’s stepfather.
The baby, just born last month, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Neighbors told CBS News New York that their building is full of friendly dogs and were shocked to hear the tragic news.
“As a mom of three, I was sad. Because honestly, as a parent, you don’t expect your pet to attack your child,” neighbor Maria Gutierrez told the outlet.
No arrests have been made, per the NYPD, which said the investigation is ongoing.
The dog was seized by Animal Control, a DCPI officer tells PEOPLE. The NYPD’s press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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