Nationwide — Warren Houston, an African American father from Cincinnati, Ohio, has been sentenced after the death of his 3-year-old daughter, Kingsley, who was killed in a pit bull attack. He will serve five to seven and a half years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and related charges.
According to WLWT 5, Kingsley was visiting her father for Christmas in 2024 when she stayed at his home overnight. She slept on a couch in the living room of Houston’s home. In the same house, two pit bull terriers were kept in a cage with a broken latch nearby. Houston and his girlfriend were asleep in a separate bedroom with the door closed.
During the night, the dogs escaped the cage and attacked the child. The attack went on for nearly 30 minutes. Neither Houston nor his girlfriend woke up during the incident or heard Kingsley’s cries. When Houston woke up later, he found blood in the living room and his daughter unresponsive.
He immediately called emergency services and told the dispatcher, “My baby is dead. This has got to be a f***ing nightmare.” Authorities later confirmed that Kingsley died from a dislocated neck and severe blood loss caused by the attack.
Investigators noted that Houston had consumed alcohol and marijuana that night. Prosecutors argued he was aware that at least one of the dogs posed a risk and failed to ensure the cage was secure. The judge also said he did not take reasonable steps to check on his daughter and pointed to unsafe conditions that existed before the attack.
Kingsley’s mother, Gina Smith, said she spoke to her daughter on FaceTime the night before and believed she was safe in her father’s care. She later learned of the death through a message from another family member. She said she never got the chance to say a final goodbye.
Houston’s defense team said he cooperated fully with investigators and described the incident as a tragic accident. They argued the dogs had no known history of aggression. His lawyer also said they plan to appeal the conviction, while a separate civil case is still ongoing.