Prosecutors in Oklahoma revealed on Monday that they have escalated the charges against the parents of a toddler who was tragically killed by their dog last month.

The incident occurred on November 18, when LockLynn McGuire was discovered lifeless, bearing multiple bite marks and other severe injuries. According to KOCO, police in Oklahoma City reported that the young girl had been confined in a room with one of the family’s four dogs when the fatal attack took place.

Just days earlier, on November 6, the same dog had reportedly attacked LockLynn, resulting in the severing of her ear—a trauma that necessitated plastic surgery.

Following this tragic event, the child’s parents, Darci Lambert, aged 24, and Jorden McGuire, aged 34, were initially arrested on charges of second-degree murder. However, Oklahoma County prosecutors have since intensified these charges to first-degree murder and animal cruelty.

Investigators noted that the room where LockLynn lost her life was equipped with a double-sided toddler lock, which tragically trapped her inside during the assault.

“Lambert and McGuire’s complete disregard for the health, safety and welfare of their child and their failure to protect her despite knowing she was at risk, led to her death,” Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna commented.

According to The Oklahoman, Jordan McGuire said the dog — a pit bull — was kept in the room with his daughter because it would fight the other dogs. He said he saw his daughter sleeping in the room with the dog at the foot of the mattress. Two hours later, the mother took the other dogs outside when she overheard labored breathing from the girl’s room.

Oklahoma City Animal Welfare removed various animals from the home at the time of Jordan McGuire and Lambert’s arrests. The animals included two bearded dragons and four dogs, three of which were allegedly malnourished.

McGuire and Lambert remain jailed on $1 million bond.

[Feature Photo: KOCO]