Three year old dropped by mother to death at Zoo (Pittsburgh: legal, shopping mall)

[groar]

i don't want to look at any more articles because i really don't want to see the kid.

but this is NOT being investigated as a homicide, is it?

[Dragonfly8]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Homicide (Latin: homicidium, Latin: homo human being + Latin: caedere to cut, kill)
is the act of a human killing another human.


Am I missing something here?

Good catch and I should have put this instead-

"Homicide investigators have interviewed several witnesses and zoo personnel, and the investigation is ongoing," police said in a written statement.

Pittsburgh Zoo: No time to save child mauled by African painted dogs - WPMT

I feel pretty certain questioning the neighbors would be included in this process.

[LIRefugee]

Absolute pure distilled speculation here, but the police might be required to investigate the situation as a homicide since a person died, i.e. it is a procedure that is followed regardless of any other exigencies.

But that is nothing other than a surmise.

The parents must be going through a gut-wrenching hell.

[Copanut]

I remember when Big Ben was hit riding his cycle, the Homicide Dept was called in, can still remember the radio call being played on air. It's a formality, anytime there is a death, I believe they get the call regardless of the circumstances.

[Hopes]

The police have to rule out homicide via making sure there was no child abuse.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by UKyank

"People who answered the door at the Derkosh home declined to comment"

This is why I hate news reporters

Was it Marty Griffin? Was he calling for the mother to be pilloried?

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by jay5835

Was it Marty Griffin? Was he calling for the mother to be pilloried?

I fully admit as having to look up what that word meant - learn something new everyday

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by UKyank

I fully admit as having to look up what that word meant - learn something new everyday

Pillorying. It's his stock in trade. The first time I heard of Marty Griffin was when some gay priest or minister killed himself after Marty outed him on the air, based on a trip to an "adult" bookstore. The first time I ever heard him in action (radio), he was holding forth on the evils of welfare mothers having free cellphones.

[Dragonfly8]

Originally Posted by Hopes

The police have to rule out homicide via making sure there was no child abuse.

They also have to determine where the fault lies in this tragedy.

Did zoo negligence cause/contribute to this?

Did the parents carelessness cause/contribute to this?

Should criminal charges be filed? If yes, on whom?

What steps, if any, need to be taken to prevent this from happening again?

The Pittsburgh police must conduct a solid investigation to answer these questions.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Copanut

I remember when Big Ben was hit riding his cycle, the Homicide Dept was called in, can still remember the radio call being played on air. It's a formality, anytime there is a death, I believe they get the call regardless of the circumstances.

Pennsylvania law considers:

A person . . . guilty of criminal homicide if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently causes the death of another human being.

I doubt anyone seriously thinks the killing was intentional, but it was certainly the result of recklessness. Depending on how the prosecution feels, I believe they could pursue third degree murder charges.