Dog owner pleads not guilty in case of boy mauled to death in Volusia County

Dog owner pleads not guilty in case of boy mauled to death

One of the owners of the dogs that fatally mauled an 8-year-old boy earlier this year in Volusia County pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony evidence tampering.

DELAND, Fla. - One of the owners of the dogs that fatally mauled an 8-year-old boy earlier this year in Volusia County pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony evidence tampering.

What we know:

Brandy Hodil, one of two dog owners whose animals fatally mauled 8-year-old Micheal Millet in DeLand earlier this year, entered a not guilty plea Thursday to a felony charge of tampering with evidence. 

Prosecutors allege Hodil deleted her social media accounts to hide messages with neighbors about the dogs’ history of violent behavior. Her co-owner, Amanda Franco, faces the same charge. Both are scheduled to return to court Sept. 22.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear how much weight prosecutors will place on the alleged deleted messages and whether other charges could follow. Authorities have not released details on what became of the dogs involved in the attack, nor have they outlined the full extent of evidence linking Hodil and Franco to an alleged cover-up.

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The backstory:

On January 13, 8-year-old Michael Millett was riding his bike with a friend when he stopped to pet two dogs running loose in his Berry’s Ridge neighborhood.

Family heartbroken after mauling death of child

The mother of the boy attacked and killed by two dogs said she will never get the image of seeing her son being mauled out of her mind. On January 13, 8-year-old Michael Millett was riding his bike with a friend when he stopped to pet two dogs running loose in his Berry?s Ridge neighborhood.

The attack rattled the DeLand community and sparked outrage over whether the dogs’ owners had prior knowledge of their dangerous behavior. Investigators say messages between Hodil and neighbors could shed light on what the women knew before the attack.

What they're saying:

Micheal’s mother, Tiffani Connell, attended Thursday's court hearing.

"That’s how she’s reacted this whole time. There’s no empathy, there’s nothing," said Micheal’s mother, Tiffani Connell. "I’d like to see her sitting in orange like those other inmates in there."

Hodil pushed back against the allegations: "The charges are false, and that will be said in court," she told reporters.

What's next:

Both women are due back in court Sept. 22.

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