Despite ID, little is clear in mauling Despite ID, little is clear in Tulsa mauling
By Sheila Stogsdill
Published: July 30, 2008
TULSA — Authorities Tuesday identified a 2-month-old boy who died after being mauled by a Labrador puppy inside a south Tulsa residence, but offered few other details concerning the attack.
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The victim was identified by Tulsa police as Zane Alen Earles. Police declined to release the names of his parents or his grandparents, in whose home the attack occurred.
The dog was taken to an animal shelter after the attack Monday and later was euthanized, Tulsa police spokesman Leland Ashley said.
Ashley said the infant's mother found him dead in an infant swing about 10:30 a.m. Monday.
The child's body was taken to the state medical examiner's office, where the cause of death is pending, said Randy Saffell, a spokesman for the office.
Saffell said it may take up to 12 weeks to receive all the test results to determine exactly how the infant died.
Detective Scott Murphy declined Tuesday to give details of the child's injuries, citing the sensitive nature of his death.
The child's father and grandfather left the home, 2904 E 102, at 8 and 8:30 a.m. Monday, Ashley said. Before the grandfather left, he put the infant in a swing in a dining room at the east end of the south Tulsa home. The infant's mother and grandmother were asleep in their bedrooms at the west end of the home.
Parents' names withheld
Ashley declined to release the parents' names, but said the infant's father is 18 and the mother is 17.
Authorities think Earles was bitten numerous times by the black Labrador puppy.
Hod Johnson, a neighbor, said the family mostly keeps to themselves.
"I knew them well enough to say ‘Hi' when I saw them on the street,” Johnson said.
A week ago the young parents and a friend had the baby in a stroller and were taking a walk, he said.
"It's a sad situation,” Johnson said.
Contributing: State Correspondent Larry Levy
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•Raymond Palmer, 19 months, died June 28, after he was run over by family friend's truck near Ardmore.
•Brecken Owenby, 2, died June 27 along with his father Joshua Owenby, 27, who apparently drove an ATV off an Arkoma bluff into the water 25 to 30 feet below.
•Colby Weske, 16 months, died May 29 after being pulled from a private swimming pool in north Oklahoma City.
•Maddlen Leann Driver, 3, died June 23 when her mother, 23-year-old Amy Driver, backed over the child in their driveway southeast of Whitesboro in Le Flore County.
•Johnny Lee Catlaidge, 19 months, died after he was found floating in his family's in-ground swimming pool in Coweta on July 1.
