A Texas couple, Christian Moreno and Abilene Schnieder, was handed down significant prison sentences by the Bexar County District Attorney's Office following a fatal incident involving their pit bulls. The pair was sentenced on Friday to 18 years and 15 years in prison, respectively, for the mauling that occurred on Feb. 24, 2023, near their San Antonio residence.

The horrific attack resulted in the death of 81-year-old Ramon Najera and left his wife, Juanita Najera, injured as they were out running errands. Firefighters who responded to the scene encountered a gruesome sight of a man being dragged by the dogs, leading them to intervene with pickaxes to fend off the aggressive animals. Subsequently, the three pit bulls responsible for the attack were euthanized by Animal Care Services.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that there had been prior complaints about loose and aggressive dogs from the defendants' residence. The prosecution argued that Moreno and Schnieder displayed criminal negligence by failing to adequately secure their animals on the property. The couple pleaded guilty to charges related to the fatal dog attack on Aug. 30, with the district attorney emphasizing that the tragedy could have been prevented with responsible pet ownership.