PITTSBURGH — The mother of a 2-year-old boy who was mauled to death after falling into a zoo exhibit of wild African dogs won’t be prosecuted.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Wednesday that Maddox Derkosh’s death at the Pittsburgh Zoo was a “tragic accident.”
His mother, 34-year-old Elizabeth Derkosh, had put him on top of a railing to view a pack of African painted dogs in early November. The boy fell off, the animals immediately pounced on him and he bled to death.
Zappala says witnesses described the boy lunging forward, as if he thought there was some sort of clear barrier to stop him.
Zappala says he’s still investigating whether any charges will be filed against the zoo, and what changes need to be made there.