A Texas couple was sentenced to more than a decade in jail on Friday after their pit bulls ran loose and killed an 81-year-old man last year, according to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.
Christian Moreno was sentenced to 18 years in jail, while Abilene Schnieder was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the mauling on February 24, 2023, near their San Antonio home.
Ramon Najera, 81, was slain, while his wife, Juanita Najera, was injured in the attack.
According to officials, the dogs got loose and attacked the Najeras while they were performing errands nearby. “What happened to Mr. Najera was an unspeakable horror,” 226th District Court Judge Velia J. Meza said before handing down the punishment.
Firefighters arrived on the site and observed a bloodied guy being carried around a corner by dogs, forcing them to use pickaxes to fend off the animals, according to the city’s fire chief.
Animal Care Services said that the three canines involved in the attack or who were not on their property at the time were euthanized. The district attorney’s office charged Moreno and Schnieder with criminal negligence for failing to provide proper fences and allowing the animals to roam freely.
Juanita Najera informed the court on Friday that she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a courtroom video carried by San Antonio’s NBC affiliate WOAI.
“I would never have imagined I’d be calling myself a widow at this time in my life, and in this tragic way,” she confessed. “PTSD is something I’ll have to deal with for the rest of my life. Extreme loneliness and emptiness will be part of my life. “You both took a big part of my life away,” she sobbed, placing her palm over her mouth. “You took my better half away.”
There had been previous complaints of loose and dangerous dogs from that home, according to officials at the time of the incident. Moreno and Schnieder pled guilty on August 30 to a dog attack that resulted in death.
“This sad catastrophe was avoidable. “The defendant’s failure to act responsibly and secure their pit bulls resulted in injuries and a death,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said in a statement.
Attorneys for Moreno and Schnieder did not immediately reply to messages seeking comment after business hours Friday evening. If granted parole, Moreno and Schnieder are not permitted to own or possess pets.
“Mr. Moreno, Ms. Schnieder, this is about responsible dog ownership,” the prosecutor replied. “It involves not only taking care of your dog but ensuring the safety of the people in our neighborhoods, in our communities.”