An Indiana family of six have all been arrested after a one-week-old baby was fatally savaged in a dog attack.
Jason Anthony Weaver died from blunt-force trauma wounds on September 4 last year after he was mauled by the animal named Chomp as he sat briefly unattended in a car seat in the living room.
His death was initially ruled an accident, until investigators conducted a home visit and found the property in Markle uninhabitable.
Jason’s parents, Austin Kinsey, 26, and Violet Weaver, 24, were both among the six family members arrested in relation to the infant’s death.
Tony Kinsey, Jason’s uncle, and the infant’s grandfather, Timothy Kinsey, were also arrested, as well as his grandmother Rita Wickey and her husband Michael Wickey.
Austin was taken into custody on charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death.
Rita and Michael each face an infraction for harboring a non-immunized dog and Austin faces an additional misdemeanor charge for harboring a non-immunized dog resulting in injury.
All six family members were charged with felony neglect of a dependent and booked into Huntington County Jail.
Jason Anthony Weaver, born on August 28, 2025, died from blunt-force trauma wounds on September 4 of last year after their family dog viciously attacked him
Jason’s parents, Austin Kinsey, 26, and Violet Weaver, 24, were both among the six family members arrested in relation to the infant’s death
Tony Kinsey, Jason’s uncle, and the infant’s grandfather, Timothy Kinsey, were arrested on charges of neglect
Jason’s grandmother Rita Wickey and her husband Michael Wickey were also arrested on charges of neglect and face an infraction for harboring a non-immunized dog
Jason died after being viciously attacked by five-year-old Chomp, a husky-pit bull mix, according to a police report obtained by the Daily Mail.
The family claimed that the dog had previously been affectionate with the infant and would rock the baby’s bouncer, according to court documents.
Yet they also noted that the dog was jealous, protective of Violet, often aggressive toward other animals and had bitten people before.
After Chomp had shown aggression in one such instance, Rita told someone who was not charged in the case that another family member allegedly carried a gun and threatened to shoot the dog should another incident arise.
The family told police they had considered getting rid of Chomp or putting him down before the infant was born, the report stated.
A family member reportedly told police that the infant’s father was aware that they should have gotten rid of the dog, but ‘he couldn’t bring himself to get rid of his best friend.’
The investigation also allegedly revealed that their family home, however, was unsuitable for both the infant and the dog, as investigators said they discovered mountains of trash and bugs.
As officers arrived at the home, one noted a ‘strong odor of animal, trash and dirt everywhere in the home,’ court documents stated.
The infant died after being viciously attacked by five-year-old Chomp, a husky-pit bull mix, when he was left alone in a car seat in the family living room for less than a minute. Pictured: One of the dogs owned by the Kinsey and Weaver family
A family member reportedly told police that the infant’s father was aware that they should have gotten rid of the dog, but ‘he couldn’t bring himself to get rid of his best friend.’ Pictured: Weaver seen with Austin Kinsey
While the dog, at the time, had no reported history of aggression or violence, the family told police they had considered getting rid of the dog or putting him down before the infant was born. Pictured: Violet Weaver
Dirty dishes and clothes also littered the home and Jason’s car seat was also found to have been filled with bugs, according to the police report.
‘There was so much trash and debris, officers could barely walk through the home,’ one officer said in the report.
‘I also observed numerous cockroaches and flying buys on the walls, floor, ceiling and doorways.’
The family was ordered to vacate the home by September 8 after it was determined to not be fit for people to live in by the Huntington County Health Department, the police report stated.
An autopsy revealed that Jason suffered 180 abrasions and several bruises on his head, neck, torso, back and limbs, as well as major internal injuries, including brain hemorrhages, rib factures and tears in the lungs.
Timothy, the boy’s grandfather, had heard noises while in the kitchen before he saw the dog dragging the infant.
He quickly scooped the boy into his arms and yelled for an ambulance.
Chomp and other dogs were removed from the home before Chomp was later put down, documents revealed.
After Chomp had shown aggression, Rita, seen with Michael, told someone who was not charged that a family member threatened to shoot the dog should another incident arise
According to the infant’s obituary, Jason loved the song Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star as well as rock and country music.
‘Though his time on this earth was short, he will be loved forever,’ the tribute read.
The Daily Mail reached out to the Huntington County Sheriff’s Office, the Huntington Circuit Court and the Huntington County Jail for comment and more information.
