Parents charged with manslaughter after infant fatally attacked by dogs in Rochester

The parents of an infant who was fatally attacked by dogs inside a Rochester home earlier this month are now facing manslaughter charges.

On Aug. 3, three-month-old Sulamain Hawkins Jr. was mauled by at least one of two dogs about 1 p.m. while sleeping in the attic of a residence on Bidwell Terrace, said Capt. Greg Bello of the Rochester Police Department. The infant boy suffered "severe trauma" to his body and was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital , where he died from his injuries several hours later.

The boy’s parents, 19-year-olds Anastasia Weaver and Sulamain Hawkins Sr., had spent the night in the unfinished attic of the multi-family residence, Bello said. They were not residents of the house but were known to the occupants and occasionally stayed there, Bello said.

On the day of the attack, Weaver and Sulamain Hawkins Sr. are accused of leaving the infant sleeping on the floor in the attic while they went downstairs to smoke marijuana, leaving the two dogs in the attic as well, Bello said. Upon returning, they found the child unresponsive from the dog mauling, police said.

Both Weaver and Sulamain Hawkins Sr. were taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with second-degree manslaughter, police said.

They are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday in Rochester City Court.

Following the attack, Rochester Animal Services euthanized the two dogs involved.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Parents charged with manslaughter after infant fatally attacked by dogs in Rochester