Criminal Charges Expected Next Week

POSTED: 5:09 pm CDT October 20, 2006
UPDATED: 7:24 pm CDT October 20, 2006


MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -- A boy who was left home alone with two Rottweilers while his stepmother went to work has been hospitalized.


Authorities said the evidence showed that the 7-year-old, Bamba Niang, tried to run for his life, NBC5's Anita Padilla reported. Niang was transported to the University of Chicago Hospital, where he is in critical but stable condition, and is reported to be under heavy sedation. Niang was also reported to be breathing with help from a respirator.

Lake County, Ind., authorities took custody of Niang on Friday. Police said they expected to bring criminal charges against the stepmother, Cathy Paxton, next week. Among the possible charges were neglect and child endangerment. If Niang dies, the charges could be upgraded, Padilla reported.

Niang was left alone with two dogs that weighed more 100 pounds and approximately 80 pounds, Padilla reported.

"It makes you think what two animals like that (can do)," said Cpl. Barry Clanton of the Merrilville Police. "I guess, 'How can you leave a child alone?' That's the first thing you're thinking about. Plus, 'How come the dogs weren't put away?'"

A neighbor heard Niang screaming, and called his stepmother, Cathy Paxton. After the neighbor brought Paxton home, she called 911. Clanton said he arrived at the scene following the call from Paxton.

"I didn't know what was going on," said the neighbor, who declined to identify herself. "I thought they were playing."

Clanton said the boy was missing muscle and flesh from his head, torso and thighs. The boy had been left for more than an hour and a half. Clanton said Niang was facedown, moving slightly, when he was found.

"I can't even feel what that child went through," said Merrilville Police Chief Nicholas Bravos. "The horror, the fear, of being attacked by dogs. Not only is he going to be scarred for life physically, but even emotionally."

No one knows why the dogs attacked Niang, Padilla reported. "They're not clean," said Kristie Mizwicki of the Merrillville Animal Hospital. "They have fly bites around the ears. They're not house animals."


what the hell???

They should lock up the mother with some rabid dogs as punishment.

PurpleJedi said:

i'm sick and tired of stories like these, too - but i hope that there are other ways of getting people to understand that animals are not pieces of property, to be ignored until something horrible like this happens.

let's for the little kid, and for others to understand.

IrresistibleB1tch said:

What's there to understand?
The mother is an idiot and her child is forever changed...for the worse.

Yes, pets are an incredible responsibility (which is why I haven't gotten another dog)...but when neglect leads to a horrible attack, the dogs get euthanized, the victim is scarred forever, and the owner is what - slapped with a fine or something???

There IS a better way.
"Cagefullofrabiddogs: meet stupid woman."

PurpleJedi said:

i understand.

Ok thats it

all dogs are not the same.

People should have to aquire a license to own a potentially dangerous dog, just like they a large wild animal such as a tiger etc.

That stepmother should be hanged.I cannot stand people that have vicious dogs as pets and are in denial about how dangerous they are.
That poor kid is gonna have a long hard mental and emotional recovery as well as physical.

God I feel so bad for that little boy. Send that woman to Singapore and cane her ass. I wish people would wise the hell up when it comes to those animals.

How awful. Wish it could be undone... for the boy... Such things shouldn't happen.

I am a dog lover but to leave a child around rots is I dont let my kids go to my sisters she lets a full grown red nose pit bull be in her house with her 5 year old 40 lb son. Its not only unsanitary but just dangerous but I dont preach to her I just tell her my kids cant come to her house they can come to mine. I still worry about my nephew. Being a nurse I've seen what dog attacks can leave behind not a pretty picture