VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – One of the owners of the dogs that fatally mauled an 8-year-old boy near DeLand early this year was arraigned on Thursday.
Michael Millett was mauled to death by two dogs while riding his bike in a DeLand-area neighborhood back in January. The dogs, which got loose from a nearby home before the attack, were later euthanized.
[PAST COVERAGE: Dogs that attacked and killed 8-year-old boy near DeLand have been euthanized]
On Aug. 13, the state attorney for Brevard and Seminole counties announced Amanda Franco — who was one of the dogs’ owners, along with her roommate, Brandy Hodil — would face a misdemeanor charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act for an “attack or bite by unclassified dog that causes severe injury or death.”
“My role as a state attorney and as a prosecutor is not to make new law. It’s to enforce the laws that are present. I don’t get to interpret them. I have to enforce them. And unfortunately, my hands are tied in the scenario, and that’s the only charge that can be filed,” State Attorney William Scheiner said.
Within several days however, Franco and Hodil were both arrested to face new charges in connection to the deadly attack.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the two women had deleted their social media accounts the day after Millett was killed. One neighbor sent detectives screenshots allegedly showing a history of the women’s dogs getting loose off their property and causing problems in the neighborhood.
“The fact that they deleted these accounts shows you that they knew that the dogs were dangerous, the dogs could kill animals,” the sheriff said. “(...) Clearly there is knowledge there in those Facebook Messenger posts that she didn’t want us to see. She knew when those dogs killed Michael, she knew if the cops got a hold of those messages that her a** was grass.”
[WATCH: New charges for both owners of dogs that mauled boy to death in DeLand]
In court Thursday, Hodil was appointed a public defender and was ordered to be back for another hearing on Sept. 22. A not-guilty plea was entered, according to court records.
Franco, who waived her arraignment, has also entered a not-guilty plea, records show.