3 arrested after grandfather and infant found dead following reported dog mauling, police say

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) - Tennessee law enforcement arrested three people in connection with the deaths of a grandfather and his infant granddaughter after a reported dog mauling.

Tullahoma police said the arrests stem from a December 2025 incident when the two victims were attacked by their family dogs at a home on East Warren Street.

The suspects were identified as Zaccahae Smith, Sylvia Smith and Tilesia Baugh.

Zaccahae Smith is charged with second-degree murder. Sylvia Smith is charged with three counts of child abuse and neglect. Baugh is charged with two counts of child abuse and neglect and one count of aggravated child abuse and neglect.

After responding to the reported dog mauling, police found 50-year-old James Smith and his 3-month-old granddaughter dead. The dogs were still attacking the infant’s body when officers arrived, according to police.

Neighbors said the family owned seven dogs. The pit bulls previously attacked other animals in the neighborhood, but never harmed people, according to neighbors.

“I’ve never seen them be aggressive towards people. They’d run after cats. They’d run after dogs, animal things,” Rebecca Adams, who lives in the neighborhood, previously said. “I could see them be aggressive towards animals. Never did I think they would do that to the kids.”

Investigators said they were examining whether the dog attack caused the deaths or occurred after Smith and his granddaughter died.