No new charges after dog attack victim dies

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 10, 2018

 

VIDALIA — Although a woman who was attacked by dogs outside of her Azalea Street house in Vidalia on Sept. 8 died Sunday in Vidalia, Vidalia police are not updating charges filed against the dogs’ owner.

It is not clear whether Malinda “Pug” Nations died as a result of the dog attack or a health complication that was later discovered, according to family members’ social media updates, while she was hospitalized at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge.

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Nations’ family members could not be reached for comment.

After the dog attack, Leslie James Jones, 53, of Vidalia was arrested and charged with negligent injuring and allowing dogs to run at large, police said, and he was later released on a bond of $5,000.

The court ordered the dogs to be euthanized, said Brad Burget, Louisiana 7th district attorney.

“There’s no change in the charges at this point,” Vidalia Police Chief Joey Merrill said after Nations’ death.

Burget said he would have to know the cause of Nations’ death and whether the dog attack contributed to her death before considering changing any charges against Jones.

Jones is scheduled for an Oct. 17 court appearance, officials said.

Nations’ funeral will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Young’s Funeral Home Ferriday Chapel with the Rev. Bobby Mulvihill officiating.