A central Iowa woman has been found guilty of several charges in connection with the death of a four-year-old girl she was babysitting two years ago. Jena Wright’s dog attacked the girl, who died from her injuries.
Jasper County District Court Judge Richard Clogg was handed the jury’s decision late this morning after nearly five hours of deliberation. The 26-year-old Wright now faces up to 35 years in prison. She was convicted on all of the charges filed against her; child endangerment, neglect of a dependent person, assault and interference with official acts causing bodily injury.
A request for bond for Wright was denied by the judge. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 13.
In April 2013, Wright was babysitting Jordyn Arndt at her home in Prairie City. She put the child in her backyard with her dog, a pitbull named Brutis. The dog mauled the girl, who suffered bites to her head and neck. The child died the next day. When Wright was arrested, police said she tried to run from them and struggled with former Prairie City Police Chief Louis Modlin, who injured his left shoulder.
(Reporting by Randy Van, KCOB)