Three people have been arrested in connection with a December 2025 dog attack in Tullahoma, Tennessee, that left a 50-year-old grandfather and his 3-month-old granddaughter dead. Police identified the suspects as Zaccahae Smith, Sylvia Smith, and Tilesia Baugh. Zaccahae Smith faces a second-degree murder charge. Sylvia Smith faces three counts of child abuse and neglect, and Baugh faces two counts of child abuse and neglect along with one count of aggravated child abuse and neglect.
The attack happened at a home on East Warren Street, where the family kept seven dogs. A neighbor, Rebecca Adams, told reporters the animals had previously gone after cats and other dogs, but she had never seen them act aggressively toward people. “I could see them be aggressive towards animals,” she said. “Never did I think they would do that to the kids.”
Investigators are still working to determine whether the dogs caused the deaths or attacked after the victims had already died, a detail that could shape how the case proceeds. For families across the Suncoast, the story raises hard questions about pet ownership, supervision, and what to do when an animal shows warning signs. What would you do if you had concerns about a dog in your own neighborhood? Let us know in the comments.
