BROWNSTOWN – New court documents are shedding light on a case where an infant was fatally mauled by a dog in a “preventable tragedy” in Jackson County.
Todd Banks, 50, was taken into custody on Sunday, May 10, following a grand jury indictment on one count of Level 5 felony reckless homicide. The charges stem from the April 3, 2025, death of a 2-month-old infant at a residence in the 1800 block of South County Road 100 East. The infant was transported via ambulance to the Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, where she died shortly after arriving
The investigation revealed that the infant’s family was living with Banks and his wife and their two pit bulls at the time of the attack. According to the probable cause affidavit, both Banks and the child’s mother, Paitlyn Grove, 25, of Crothersville, were aware that one of the dogs posed a significant threat to the baby.
Statements in the affidavit detail a chilling history of near-misses:
Grove told detectives the dog had previously attempted to pick the infant up by a blanket while the child was in a car seat.
Banks reportedly admitted to investigators that he had witnessed the same dog try to pick the infant up by its shirt during a separate incident.
Detectives noted that during the emergency call placed after the attack, Banks could allegedly be heard saying, “I knew she would do that,” referring to the dog.
On the day of the attack, the infant was reportedly sleeping in an upstairs bedroom. Investigators found that the bedroom door lacked a working doorknob and could not be latched shut.
Grove said she reportedly heard the infant crying while on the phone and, at some point, a dog barking. The documents said that Grove told law enforcement that the infant was crying “from anywhere between three to five minutes before she went to the infant.”
While the home contained “makeshift barriers” designed to keep the pit bulls restricted to certain areas, police discovered that neither barrier was in place when the attack occurred. One of the dogs was found with blood on its face by first responders; that dog has since been euthanized.
The grand jury determined that the failure to secure the animal, despite knowing its history of “concerning behavior” toward the child, met the threshold for criminal recklessness.
Under Indiana law, a Level 5 felony carries a sentencing range of one to six years in prison. While Banks is currently in custody, charges against the child’s mother, Paitlyn Grove, remain pending.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department emphasized that the lengthy, year-long investigation was necessary to process the forensic evidence and witness statements required for the grand jury indictment.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
