A 12-day old baby has died after being knocked out of its bassinet and bitten by a dog, an autopsy found. The newborn was found unresponsive by paramedics in Preble County, Ohio on Wednesday shortly after 9am. An autopsy revealed that a dog “bit the infant several times”, though Sheriff Mike Simpson declined to identify the breed.

He did, however, describe it as medium-to-large-sized. The Preble County Sheriff’s Office said, “The preliminary findings of the autopsy are consistent with evidence found at the scene by detectives, indicating that a dog inside the house bit the infant several times, after knocking over a bassinet that the child was in.” 

Local news station 2 NEWS obtained the 911 call, in which the caller said the 12-day-old had head injuries because the bassinet had fallen over. 

Sheriff Simpson told News Centre 7: “Our hearts and prayers go out to this family for what they’re having to go through now, and just can’t even imagine having to go through that.”

He called it a “tragic event for this family” as the baby’s death remains under investigation, though he believes the parents have a good support system.

The sheriff also confirmed that his office took control of the dog and quarantined it.

He said: “We have it quarantined because of the dog bite thing. We will keep it quarantined and then will work with [the family] and see what their decisions are going to be.”