In a home with a pet and a baby, this is every parent's worst nightmare come true: Seven-week-old Holden Gothia was found on a bed in his mother's Houston, TX apartment, covered in blood, his genitals severed from his body, a deep cut in his upper leg.
Baby Holden's mother blamed her dog, an 8 pound miniature dachshund with a history of sleeping curled up next to the newborn, for the mutilation. But police are slowly piecing together evidence that suggests that it was Holden's mother who committed this atrocity.
Police, doctors and CPS officials told Holden's dad, Camden, that Holden's injuries
were not consistent with dog bites — the lacerations were too neat. Camden admitted that Holden's 25-year-old mother (whose name is being kept private) was a drug addict, but that Holden had been born drug-free. Soon after the birth, he saw signs that she was using again, however, and threatened to take the baby out of her care if she didn't stop. The next afternoon, he was called home, and arrived to find his child mutilated, and his child's mother in a drug induced stupor (she tested positive for cocaine and methadone). She is currently in a rehab facility, and refuses to cooperate with police. No charges have been filed yet
Holden remains in critical condition. He may never regain the use of his leg, and faces years of operations. Animal control authorities have given permission to Camden Gothia to take his dog home.
My heart goes out to baby Holden and his father, and to his mother, who is clearly not in her right mind, whether she is found guilty of this crime or not. I wish Holden a speedy recovery.
