(The story was updated to show Amanda Franco has turned herself in.)
The owners of the two dogs in the fatal attack on an 8-year-old boy near DeLand earlier this year now face felony charges on allegations they tampered with evidence related to the mauling by deleting a Facebook account and messages, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
Amanda Franco owned a pit bull that attacked Michael Millett III in January while he was riding his bike in his neighborhood. Franco was originally charged under a statute dealing with an “attack or bite by unclassified dog that causes severe injury or death,” a second-degree misdemeanor.
She is now charged with tampering, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in state prison.
Brandy Hodil, the owner of the other dog, a mixed-breed, was not initially charged.
But now she, too, faces a charge of tampering with evidence.
Hodil was arrested Aug. 14 and released from the Volusia County Branch Jail the following day after posting a $7,500 bond.
The sheriff’s office had been unable to locate Franco. But just after 2 p.m. on Aug. 15 the Sheriff’s Office posted on social media that Franco had turned herself in at her attorney’s office.
The new felony charges follow criticism earlier this week that the misdemeanor charge against Franco was not severe enough.
Deleted Facebook account, messages after fatal dog attack
Franco deleted her Facebook account during the sheriff office’s investigation. The Facebook account “contained messages between her and a neighbor about her dogs’ violent tendencies,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Hodil, who owned the second dog and was Franco’s roommate, “deleted specific messages between her and the neighbor about the dogs being loose the night of the incident,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Hodil also “searched how to deactivate her account and messenger,” the sheriff’s office stated.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Dog owners charged with felonies following fatal attack on 8-year-old boy near DeLand
Reporting by Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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