A Texas couple was sentenced to more than a decade in prison Friday after their pit bulls escaped and killed an 81-year-old man last year, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office said.
Christian Moreno was sentenced to 18 years in prison and Abilene Schnieder to 15 years in prison for the Feb. 24, 2023, beating near their San Antonio home.
Ramon Najera, 81, was killed and his wife, Juanita Najera, was injured in the attack.
According to officials, the dogs escaped and attacked the Najeras while they were shopping nearby.
“What happened to Mr. Najera is an unspeakable horror,” Judge Velia J. Meza of the 226th District Court said before imposing the sentence.
Firefighters who arrived at the scene saw a bloodied man being dragged around a corner by dogs, and firefighters had to use pickaxes to keep the animals away, the city’s fire chief said at the time.
Animal Care Services reported at the time of the attack that the three dogs involved in the attack or not on their property at the time were euthanized.
According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Moreno and Schnieder were criminally negligent by failing to install adequate fencing and allowing the animals to roam freely.
Juanita Najera told the court Friday that she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to video of the courtroom aired by San Antonio’s NBC affiliate WOAI.
“I never thought I would call myself a widow at this point in my life, and in this tragic way,” she said. “PTSD is now something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. Extreme loneliness and emptiness will also be a part of my life.”
“You both took a huge part of my life,” she said, clapping her hand over her mouth and sobbing. “You took my other half.”
Authorities said there had been previous complaints about loose and aggressive dogs in the home at the time of the attack.
Moreno and Schnieder pleaded guilty on August 30 to a dog attack resulting in death.
“This unfortunate tragedy was preventable. The defendants’ failure to act responsibly and secure their pit bulls resulted in injuries and the loss of a life,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said in a statement.
Attorneys representing Moreno and Schnieder did not immediately respond to requests for comment after closing time Friday evening.
If Moreno and Schnieder are released, they will no longer be allowed to own dogs.
“Mr. Moreno, Ms. Schnieder, this is about responsible dog ownership,” the judge said. “It’s not just about taking care of your dog, it’s about keeping people safe in our neighborhoods, in our communities.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
