BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — A 1-year-old baby boy has died after deputies said he was attacked by his babysitter’s dogs, according to his mother. She spoke virtually with KENS 5 from University Hospital on Monday night as he was fighting for his life in the ICU.
Erika Castro said she has not had time to fully process what has happened to her only child, Jiryiah Johnson.
“I’ve been shaking, I’ve been having panic attacks,” Castro said.
The babysitter, 36-year-old Heather Rodriguez, faces felony charges of causing serious bodily injury to a child by omission. She was arrested at her home Monday morning off the 9700 block of Spruce Ridge Drive in northeast Bexar County, where investigators said the attack occurred.
Castro said she knew Rodriguez had dogs but was assured they would always be secured away from her baby.
“I wish she’d had stayed like she said she would’ve, instead of going into work like she got called into work,” Castro said.
Sheriff Javier Salazar said Rodriguez had left the baby alone with her 13-year-old daughter. He said the two were inside a bedroom, with the doors shut to stay away from the dogs.
“The door leading into that room was already damaged by the dogs at some point,” Salazar said.
BCSO shared photos of the door that was damaged. Sheriff Salazar said the dogs were able to make their way inside the bedroom and started to attack both the teen girl and the baby boy. Sheriff Salazar said the 13-year-old fought off the dogs for several minutes before running to get her phone to call 911.
Both the sheriff and Castro are crediting the teenager for fighting off the dogs for several minutes.
“I thank that girl because... she did her best,” Castro said.
While Castro said she wants accountability, her focus Monday was on her baby boy's recovery.
“He’s fighting. He’s fighting, for sure,” Castro said. “And little by little, he’s making progress, little by little.”
Castro said her son was a goofy, loving baby who was fascinated with dinosaurs and Bluey. The family is asking for prayers and financial support if possible.
"I'm thankful for it," Castro said. "He just needs all the support he can get."
If you would like to help the family, they have set up a GoFundMe.
Heather Rodriguez is in the Bexar County jail with bonds totaling $100,000.