Two residents charged in fatal dog attack

Two Tucumcari people have been criminally charged in the death of another resident who was attacked and killed last week by a pack of dogs and face a court date Friday.

Mary Montoya, 50, and Kristopher Morris, 27, both of the 400 block of West High Street, each was charged with involuntary manslaughter and a dangerous dog (death of a person).

They were booked into the Quay County Detention Center on Wednesday. They are scheduled to appear in magistrate court at 1 p.m. Friday.

The dangerous-dog charge is a third-degree felony that can lead up to six years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. The involuntary manslaughter count is a fourth-degree felony that can lead up to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.

Each was charged in the death of Stanley Hartt, 64, of Tucumcari, who was attacked and killed by five dogs at Gamble Avenue and South 11th Street, near Mesalands Community College, according to New Mexico State Police, which investigated. Hartt’s body was found with bite marks, and animals appeared to have eaten away parts of his legs.

One of the dogs was euthanized by officers at the scene.

According to an affidavit filed with an arrest warrant for Montoya and Morrison, officers followed one of the dogs to Montoya’s home, where she let the dog inside. Officers also saw blood on the dog’s face, and Montoya confirmed the dog belonged to her.

During an interview with state police, Montoya said several dogs at her home belonged to her son, but she took care of the animals. She said one dog, Zina, often jumped over the back fence of her residence.

On the night officers followed one of the dogs back to its home, she said she found her back gate open. She also told officers Zina previously had bitten two other people and that her dogs would leave her residence and return hours later.

Morris, also interviewed by officers, said the dogs repeatedly escaped from the home and had a history of attacking residents. Investigators also determined the fence at the residence was in poor condition.