The parents of an 8-year-old Volusia County boy who was fatally mauled by two dogs have retained a law firm that’s now probing the horrific case.
Michael Millett and Tiffani Connell are working with Morgan & Morgan in the wake of last month’s mauling.
In a statement, the firm said that Michael Millett III was attacked inside his gated DeLand community by a pair of dogs on Jan. 13.
The animals, the attorneys stressed, set upon Michael inside the gates.
“Michael’s friend ran to get help, but it was too late, as Michael ultimately passed away in the hospital from the fatal bite wounds he suffered,” they wrote.
The lawyers asserted that Millett and his friend never approached the animals and had no interaction with them before the fatal attack.
“The dogs allegedly approached the boys as they sat by their bicycles in their gated community, and began to viciously attack Michael without provocation,” they wrote.
A separate statement from Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and attorney Alberto Oliveri said that the “tragedy demands accountability” and that they’ve launched an investigation into the circumstances of Michael’s death.
Morgan and Oliveri are probing why the entrance to the community wasn’t closed, and how the dogs gained access to it.
“We urge anyone with information about these dogs, their owners and potential security failures to reach out to our offices and the police,” they wrote. “We believe this horrifying and tragic incident should never have happened and are exploring all avenues of justice for Michael’s death.”
Tiffani Connell ran to protect her child and draped herself over his motionless body, but he had already passed.
A GoFundme campaign has raised nearly $90,000 in Michael’s name.
The dogs’ owner, Amanda Franco, has yet to be charged in the case as police continue their investigation.
Both animals were euthanized.
