Days before a Miami father goes on trial in the tragic dog mauling death of his young son, new details and photos have been obtained by NBC 6.
Javon Dade Sr., 30, will head to trial Monday on a manslaughter charge in the death of 4-year-old Javon Dade Jr., who was mauled to death in his family's backyard in August 2014.
Police said Dade Sr. and his girlfriend were high on crack cocaine and lost track of him, and a medical examiner's report obtained by NBC 6 said the child was out in the yard so long that the dog was basically feeding on him.
New images of the dog, Tank, were also released, including one taken in August shortly after police arrived when Dade Sr. called to report Javon missing. A short time later the child was found dead.
The medical examiner's report lists the boy's wounds on diagrams, and most disturbing, the examiner's findings suggesting the dog was feeding on the child.
"The skin of the face...neck...and most of the scalp is absent. The muscles of the face...and...neck are mostly absent except for a few scattered shreds of dry muscle that remains," the report said.
Video obtained by NBC 6 also shows Dade Sr. in the police interview room shortly after he was arrested. He sits in the corner of the room waiting for detectives.
Dade Sr. has pleaded not guilty and recently invoked his right to a speedy trial and that has prosecutors burning the midnight oil to be ready to present these disturbing reports on Monday.
Also charged with child neglect is Dade's girlfriend, Alessandra Carrasco. Carrasco has also entered a not guilty plea and her case has been severed from the Dade Sr. case.
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Records indicate the Department of Children and Families had been to the home before with questions about the dogs.
Photos show inside the home where detectives say it was where the pair was smoking marijuana laced with cocaine and lost track of Dade Jr. while Tank was free in the yard.
The dog Tank was put to sleep.
