Austin Kinsey was sentenced Monday to 16 years in prison after his 7-day-old son was fatally attacked by the family’s dog in a Markle, Indiana, home.

Jason Anthony Weaver died Sept. 4, 2025, after Chomp, a 5-year-old husky–pit bull mix, bit him at least 180 times. An autopsy found wounds across his head and body plus internal injuries including brain hemorrhages, rib fractures and tears in his lungs. Police who responded found a “strong odor of animal, trash, and dirt everywhere.” Court papers described bugs, trash, dirty dishes and dirty clothes. The home was later declared unfit to live in.

Kinsey told investigators he had been playing video games in the same room and left the baby only briefly to talk to relatives. Grandfather Timothy Kinsey heard noises and found Chomp dragging the infant. Officers attempted CPR. The baby could not be saved. Family members told police Chomp had been gentle with the newborn but was jealous, aggressive toward other animals, and had bitten people before. One relative said a gun was kept in the house in case the dog turned violent. Chomp was euthanized. Other dogs were removed.

Kinsey, then 26, was charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and harboring a non-immunized dog that caused injury. In a plea deal the highest-level neglect count was dropped. He was sentenced on the remaining charge. Mother Violet Weaver has a change-of-plea hearing later this month. Cases remain open against grandparents Timothy Kinsey, Rita Wickey and Michael Wickey and uncle Tony Kinsey. All had been charged in connection with the death.

Markle is about 25 miles southwest of Fort Wayne in Huntington County.

Sources

• New York Post, Sept. 16, 2026
• WPTA 21Alive
• WANE
• Huntington County court records and jail information
• The Sun, The Mirror follow-up coverage