
A Texas couple, Christian Moreno and Abilene Schnieder, were sentenced to prison on Friday after their pit bulls killed 81-year-old Ramon Najera in a horrific attack last year. Moreno received an 18-year sentence, while Schnieder was sentenced to 15 years by Bexar County District Court Judge Velia J. Meza.
The attack occurred on February 24, 2023, near the couple’s home in San Antonio when their pit bulls got loose and attacked Najera and his wife, Juanita, while they were running errands. Ramon Najera died from the mauling, and his wife suffered injuries during the attack.
“What happened to Mr. Najera was an unspeakable horror,” Judge Meza said before delivering the sentences.
Firefighters who arrived at the scene witnessed the dogs dragging Najera’s bloodied body. They had to use pickaxes to fend off the dogs, according to reports from the time. The three pit bulls involved were euthanized after the attack.
The district attorney’s office found the couple guilty of criminal negligence, as they failed to provide adequate fencing to contain their dogs, which had previously been the subject of complaints from neighbors. The couple had also allowed the animals to roam freely, contributing to the tragedy.
During the court proceedings, Juanita Najera spoke about her trauma, revealing that she now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the attack. “PTSD is now something I will have to deal with the rest of my life. Extreme loneliness and emptiness will also be a part of my life,” she told the court.
Addressing the defendants directly, Juanita added, “You both took a big part of my life away. You took my better half away.”
The couple pleaded guilty on August 30 to the charge of attack by dog resulting in death. Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said the tragedy was preventable, and the couple’s failure to secure their dogs was a clear act of negligence.
If paroled, Moreno and Schnieder will be prohibited from owning or possessing dogs in the future.
“This is about responsible dog ownership,” Judge Meza said during sentencing, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety of neighbors and the community.