In a significant development on Monday, Oklahoma prosecutors announced that they have escalated the charges against the parents of a 2-year-old girl who was tragically killed by their dog last month.
The incident occurred on November 18 when LockLynn McGuire was discovered dead, bearing multiple bite wounds and other injuries. According to KOCO, Oklahoma City police found that the toddler had been locked in a room with one of the family’s four dogs when the fatal attack took place.
Earlier, on November 6, the same dog was reported to have attacked LockLynn, resulting in the severing of her ear which required plastic surgery.
Following the child’s death, authorities arrested her parents, Darci Lambert, 24, and Jorden McGuire, 34, initially charging them with second-degree murder. However, prosecutors in Oklahoma County have now upgraded these charges to first-degree murder and added charges of animal cruelty.
Investigators revealed that the room where LockLynn died was equipped with a double-sided toddler lock, which trapped her inside during the attack and prevented any chance of escape.
“The parents’ complete disregard for the health, safety, and welfare of their child, alongside their failure to protect her despite being aware of the risk, directly led to her tragic death,” remarked Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna.
According to The Oklahoman, Jordan McGuire said the dog — a pit bull — was kept in the room with his daughter because it would fight the other dogs. He said he saw his daughter sleeping in the room with the dog at the foot of the mattress. Two hours later, the mother took the other dogs outside when she overheard labored breathing from the girl’s room.
Oklahoma City Animal Welfare removed various animals from the home at the time of Jordan McGuire and Lambert’s arrests. The animals included two bearded dragons and four dogs, three of which were allegedly malnourished.
McGuire and Lambert remain jailed on $1 million bond.
[Feature Photo: KOCO]
