In a somber courtroom in San Antonio, Texas, a couple received lengthy prison sentences for a tragic incident involving their dogs, as reported by NBC News. Christian Moreno and Abilene Schnieder were handed 18 and 15 years respectively for their negligence which led to the fatal mauling of 81-year-old Ramon Najera near their home on February 24, 2023.
The attack, which also injured Najera’s wife, Juanita, occurred as the couple was running errands close to the scene. The unleashed pit bulls owned by Moreno and Schnieder escaped and launched the deadly attack, which Judge Velia J. Meza of the 226th District Court described as an “unspeakable horror.”
First responders to the scene recounted harrowing efforts to save Mr. Najera, with firefighters using pickaxes to fend off the aggressive animals. The involved dogs were later euthanized by Animal Care Services, reflecting the severity of the incident.
The court heard emotional testimony from Juanita Najera, who now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the attack. Visibly distressed, she shared the profound impact of her husband’s death on her life, expressing feelings of extreme loneliness and emptiness. “You both took a big part of my life away,” she sobbed in the courtroom, directly addressing Moreno and Schnieder.
The district attorney’s office underscored the preventability of this tragedy, highlighting the couple’s failure to secure adequate fencing and control their dogs as the root cause of the fatal event. It was revealed that there had been previous complaints about the aggressive behavior of dogs from the couple’s residence.
Moreno and Schnieder, who pleaded guilty to attack by dog resulting in death, faced the consequences of their actions, as Judge Meza emphasized the responsibilities of dog ownership. “It involves not only taking care of your dog but ensuring the safety of the people in our neighborhoods, in our communities,” she remarked.
The sentencing marked a somber reminder of the responsibilities pet owners hold and the severe repercussions of negligence. If paroled, Moreno and Schnieder will be prohibited from owning or possessing dogs, ensuring that such a tragedy does not recur.