Coroner: Toddler Was Killed by Dogs

A Mount Pleasant boy, killed on May 27 in his family's yard, died as result of a dog attack, according to Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten.

Tests completed over the last week conclusively link Ja'Marr Tiller's wounds with two dogs confiscated by authorities immediately after the attack, Wooten said.

"The injuries sustained were consistent with the two dogs," Wooten said. "Both dogs were involved."

Forensic experts examined the child's wounds as well as the animals in making the determination. Molds were taken of the dogs' teeth while under sedation and those were compared to the child's wounds.

Read full coverage on Ja'Marr Tiller's death.

Now, Wooten and Sheriff Al Cannon will continue their investigation, and Wooten says their may be a formal inquest into the child's death. Cannon said both offices are studying whether child neglect charges are appropriate. They have been in contact with the South Carolina Attorney General's Office as they continue to probe the case.

"Part of my concern ... is that this is a very young child ... and no one is able to tell us how the child got outside," Wooten said. "My hope would be that we have some positive outcome as far as raising awareness for our responsibilities as parents."

Family and police suggested two yard dogs that lived on the family's rural property were responsible, but police did not rule out the possibility that another animal could have attacked the child. Though Wooten said she's comfortable in assigning blame to the animals, there are other other remote possibilities.

"There are many questions ... we will never have answers to," she said. "But we don't have anything that leads us to believe (another animal attacked) happened."

Family discovered the boy injured and unconscious in their yard around 8:30 p.m. the evening before Memorial Day, police said.

The family at first told 911 operators and responding officers that the dogs had been aggressive toward children. Later, neighbors and the family said the animals never posed a risk.

Tiller's death fell just six weeks after a That child's father faces criminal charges for neglect.

Cannon said it would be improper to assume criminal charges will come from this case simply because the neighboring case proceeded that way.

"There is a limit to the similarities between that case and this one," he said. "It would be a mistake to assume that because one case was handled a certain way ... this one would be handled in a similar manner."

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