For Immediate Release
April 18, 2025
Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson today announced charges against a Kansas City father and son in connection with a fatal dog mauling that took place last year.
John R. Thibeaux II and John R. Thibeaux I face one count of 1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of 2nd Degree Assault each. *
“Owning animals comes the responsibility of properly securing them. When owners neglect their duty to maintain adequate fencing or ignore warning signs of aggression, they put innocent lives at risk and could face serious criminal charges,” said Prosecutor Johnson.
According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 3200 block of East 80th Street on Nov. 2, 2024, and found numerous dogs attacking the victim. Officers used sirens and air horns to scare away the dogs and they retreated to Thibeaux II’s yard through holes in a chain-link fence. The fence was improperly installed, allowing the dogs to enter and exit the yard.
The victim, who suffered severe wounds, died days later. Another person was also bitten while trying to stop the attack.
Surveillance video showed the dogs behind the fence in Thibeaux II’s yard before the attack. One of the dogs was outside the fence and began attacking the victim. The other dogs crawled under the chain-link fence and joined in the attack.
Witnesses reported the dogs regularly roamed the neighborhood, had attacked neighbors’ pets, were aggressive toward people, and even bit someone in the neighborhood on two separate occasions. Text messages revealed Thibeaux I knew about the dogs’ behavior.
Detectives also discovered Thibeaux II operated a dog breeding business, as evidenced by social media posts advertising puppies for sale. Thibeaux II also admitted in texts that one of his dogs had bitten him while he tried to break up a fight between his dogs, just months before the fatal attack.
Both defendants are in custody on a $100,000 bond each.
*Charges are only accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or pleads guilty.
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Media Contact:
Jazzlyn Johnson
Director of Communications
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
415 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO - 64106
(816) 929-1289
jazzlyn.johnson@jacksongov.org
https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com