Baby Sitter Charged in Fatal Mauling

A baby sitter whose pit bull mauled a 2-year-old girl to death was charged with felony child endangerment and involuntary manslaughter on Wednesday.

Jackie Star Batey, 30, of Good Hope, near Perris, faces up to six years in state prison if convicted on the two counts, said Michael Soccio, chief deputy district attorney for Riverside County

Batey could not be reached for comment. She is scheduled to be arraigned Monday at Riverside County Superior Court in Temecula.

Summer Clugston was attacked June 20 by the dog while playing in the frontyard of her baby sitter’s house, authorities said. Batey was supervising Summer along with her own children and another child when the attack occurred, authorities said.

Batey’s son tried to save Summer by kicking the animal until it freed the girl, authorities said, but she was pronounced dead at Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar.

Neighbors in the rural area reported seeing four dogs roaming the property and said they avoided the pit bull.

Investigators found that there were reports of the animal’s hostility and that Batey was aware of her dog’s history, Soccio said. The pit bull was killed after the attack.

“In knowing that she had a vicious animal on her property and agreeing to watch children and not providing a safe and secure environment for them, her conduct rose to the level of criminal responsibility,” Soccio said.