Three relatives of a two-year-old girl have been arrested on charges of endangering the welfare of a minor following a fatal dog attack that occurred on March 28 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Earnest Jackson, 54, Christina Hart, 41, and Ma'Kayla Jackson, 21, were taken into custody after an investigation into the death of Celeste Jackson.
According to an arrest affidavit, a witness reported seeing Celeste playing outside the family's home when she was dragged away by a dog. Police who arrived at the scene found the child unresponsive, covered in blood with numerous lacerations and bite injuries. Celeste was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage that reportedly showed Celeste unattended outside the home for approximately 40 minutes before the attack. The footage indicated that an adult left the residence at 5:03 p.m. and no adult checked on the child until the dog attack at 5:41 p.m. Detectives also reviewed footage from a week prior, alleging Celeste had been unsupervised outside for over 20 minutes on March 21.
Ma'Kayla Jackson told officers she had fallen asleep and believed another adult was watching Celeste. However, the surveillance review suggested that a woman left the home at 5:31 p.m., retrieved a bag from a parked car, and returned inside without checking on the child. Several people reportedly left the home to search for Celeste approximately ten minutes later.
Celeste's family described the dog as a stray known for wandering the area and not being leashed or fenced. However, neighbors disputed this, stating the dog was a neighbor's pet and had been seen roaming the area for years. The animal is currently in the custody of Pulaski County Animal Control.
The family home, a seven-bedroom residence, was reportedly shared by 11 relatives. Celeste's grandmother, Shawanda Jackson, expressed heartbreak and confusion, questioning how the tragedy occurred while multiple adults were present. She stated that she and Celeste's mother had left the toddler in the care of other family members while they were at work.
Earnest Jackson's bond was set at $10,000, Ma'Kayla Jackson's at $8,500, and Hart's at $3,000. All three have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Photos of the residence posted online by family members depicted a home in disarray. Some photos of Celeste posted on social media by her grandmother appeared to have been enhanced with artificial intelligence.