Lillianna Stratman, 4, was brutally attacked by a Cane Corso-mastiff mix dog while visiting her mother in February
A 4-year-old girl from Nebraska suffered severe injuries to her scalp in a vicious dog attack, during which her mother allegedly attempted to hide from police and conceal her bloodstained clothing.
According to a report from the Omaha Police Department obtained by US Newzs Digital, Lilianna Stratman was taken to the ICU after the incident on February 20 in Omaha.
Upon reaching the scene, officers spoke with witnesses who reported that an unidentified dog had attacked Lilianna. Bystanders managed to intervene and separate the dog from the victim, as stated by the police.
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“My grandniece Lillianna was attacked by a Cane Corso Mastiff mix. She is 4 years old, and her scalp was torn off, her cheekbone was broken, she has torn ligaments in her neck, and stitches all over her body,” Kimberly Lane Koterba wrote on a GoFundMe page.
The girl’s mother, Danielle Stratman, 24, allegedly hid from police at her boyfriend Greg Preister’s home and changed out of her bloody clothes, which police said she hid under a bed.
The police report stated that the dog, a Cane Corso-mastiff mix belonging to Preister, was not present at the scene when police arrived.
Animal Control eventually located the dog at Preister’s home, police said. The dog was later voluntarily surrendered to the Nebraska Humane Society, where it was euthanized and tested for rabies. No diseases were found, according to the Humane Society.
“We immediately euthanized the dog and sent the tissue out for testing due to the severity of the injuries and where they were located,” Nebraska Humane Society representative Pam Wiese told KETV. “It needs to be expedited because the injuries were very close to the brain.”
Koterba wrote that Lillianna is now out of the ICU, but will possibly need another surgery and many more to follow.
“She’s also going to need therapy for the trauma. This angel was born with Spina bifida. Any funds not used for medical purposes will go into a trust account for her future needs,” Koterba shared on her GoFundMe page.
Both Danielle Stratman and Preister were later arrested on charges of obstruction. Danielle Stratman was also charged with violating a no-contact order after being arrested on charges of child abuse and domestic assault earlier in February, KETV reported.
The police report also confirmed that Danielle Stratman was wearing a GPS tracker ankle monitor and was prohibited from seeing or communicating with her young daughter.
The toddler was turned over to the care of her biological father, Caleb Gomez, police said.
Preister was also cited later for harboring a dangerous dog and having a pet damage property.
The Nebraska Humane Society was not immediately available to respond to US Newzs Digital’s request for comment.