Mother of boy mauled to death at zoo won't be charged
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The mother of a 2-year-old boy who was mauled to death after falling into a zoo exhibit of wild African dogs won't be prosecuted.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Wednesday that Maddox Derkosh's death at the Pittsburgh Zoo was a "tragic accident."
His mother, 34-year-old Elizabeth Derkosh, had put him on top of a railing to view a pack of African painted dogs in early November. The boy fell off, the animals immediately pounced on him and he bled to death.
Zappala says witnesses described the boy lunging forward, as if he thought there was some sort of clear barrier to stop him.
Zappala says he's still investigating whether any charges will be filed against the zoo, and what changes need to be made there.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Wednesday that Maddox Derkosh's death at the Pittsburgh Zoo was a "tragic accident."
His mother, 34-year-old Elizabeth Derkosh, had put him on top of a railing to view a pack of African painted dogs in early November. The boy fell off, the animals immediately pounced on him and he bled to death.
Zappala says witnesses described the boy lunging forward, as if he thought there was some sort of clear barrier to stop him.
Zappala says he's still investigating whether any charges will be filed against the zoo, and what changes need to be made there.
This mother should be charged with neglegence. So charges possible agaisnt the zoo----WTF. Stupid people continue to make zoo's less fun
Why didn't the mother have her arms around the kid to make sure he didn't fall?
@Tattooed_Angel Shouldn't have had the kid standing on the wall in the first place
I am glad they won't be charging her.. she'll be punishing herself for the rest of her life for lacking judgement and causing her own son's death.
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I hope they don't charge the zoo, unless the zoo didn't meet the standards for safety. It was a tragic mistake on the mother's part.Â
She has already been sentenced to life. It was unfortunate that she didn't keep a closer eye on her child.
the zoo should have NO charges. Â And the mother should not be able to sue them. period. Â If the child lunged forward and the mother was not holding on to him then it's not their fault. Â What parent would set a child up on a railing like that??? Â She shouldn't be charged, as she's suffering enough, but she should not benefit financially from it in any way. She was careless.Â
@DT as a prior educator at an aquarium- you would be surprised what people do.Â
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Well being an ignorant stupid moron is not against the law.
I take small comfort in the fact that he was undoubtably dead in less than 2 minutes (it takes just 2 1/2 minutes for the average sized adult to bleed to death from an artery) so logically thinking, he could not have suffered long. Hopefully his mother will suffer his loss forever.
 @katiemcc What a horrible thing to say.  His mother will suffer the loss forever.  You may not be a horrible person, but this post sure makes you look like you are.  Go to... you'll figure it out. Â
Won't be charged? wow
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2228712/Pittsburgh-zoo-death-Maddox-Derkosh-bled-death-mauled-African-wild-dogs-fell-pit-zoo--reopen-today.html
 @Vince Did you see that one comment on there where the woman said that the zoo should pay for this because they didn't have giant signs telling people not to assume the net would save you if you fell? Seriously.. she wrote that the mother put the kid up there because she probably figured that the net would save him if he fell.  It was quite a comment.Â
There was nothing accidental about this. The mom placed her 2 year old on a railing and the kid fell off. That isn't an accident.Â
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 @MPS  @lakeview Yes, keep calling yourself that. It is apt.
The zoo is not at fault. The railing is there to prevent people from going over. Putting a baby on top of it was a senseless act.  We need to stop bubble wrapping everything and expect people to have common sense. RIP little one. Let's hope your mother doesn't breed again.Â