Jiryiah Johnson’s family is pairing calls for policy changes with a nonprofit created to help children in his name.
SAN ANTONIO — The sentencing of a babysitter whose dogs killed 1-year-old Jiryiah Johnson has renewed his family’s calls for stronger dangerous-dog laws as they work to turn their grief into help for other children.
Heather Rodriquez, 37, received a 14-year prison sentence June 1 in Bexar County after accepting a plea agreement on two child-endangerment charges. The sentence closed a major part of the criminal case, but Jiryiah’s parents, Erika Castro and Julian Johnson, said their concerns extend beyond the punishment of one person.
They want government officials to consider changes aimed at preventing other families from experiencing a similar loss. Local lawmakers have said they plan to renew efforts on dangerous-dog legislation when the Texas Legislature returns in 2027, after previous proposals did not pass in 2023 or 2025.
Jiryiah was attacked Oct. 7, 2024, while at Rodriquez’s home in northeast Bexar County. Sheriff’s officials said Rodriquez had agreed to babysit him but left her 13-year-old daughter responsible for the child while she left the house.
Authorities said three dogs forced their way into the room where the teenager was caring for Jiryiah. The teenager attempted to protect the child during the attack, sheriff’s officials said. Jiryiah died Oct. 8, and the dogs were euthanized after a court hearing later that month.
The death became part of a broader public debate over the responsibilities of dog owners and the steps local and state governments can take before an animal causes serious harm. Jiryiah’s family has questioned whether tougher penalties, reporting systems or enforcement measures could help officials respond earlier to animals believed to pose a danger.
The reports reviewed do not identify the wording of a specific bill planned for the 2027 legislative session. They also do not establish which lawmakers will sponsor legislation or what provisions may be included. Any proposal would have to proceed through the regular legislative process before becoming law.
The family’s advocacy follows earlier unsuccessful efforts to revise dangerous-dog rules at the state level. The issue has also received attention from San Antonio-area officials after several serious dog attacks, though city and county governments operate under different ordinances and enforcement systems.
Rodriquez’s criminal case focused on her responsibility for Jiryiah’s care. She pleaded to endangering an injured child in imminent danger, a second-degree felony, and child endangerment, a state jail felony. Judge Joel Perez imposed the maximum sentence allowed under the plea agreement.
At the hearing, Perez cited evidence showing that Rodriquez resisted law enforcement officers when they moved to take custody of the three dogs. He told the court that her apparent concern for the animals after the attack was aggravating. Jiryiah’s parents also spoke about how their son’s death had changed their lives.
Castro and Johnson said the sentence brought accountability but could not restore what their family lost. They remain troubled that Rodriquez did not call them after the attack, even after deputies instructed her to contact Castro, according to body camera footage reported by News 4 San Antonio.
As they pursue answers and policy changes, the parents have created Jiryiah’s Wings, a nonprofit that distributes clothing, Easter baskets and other necessities to children. Johnson said the family wants to bring joy to other children because they can no longer see their own son smile.
The organization gives the parents a way to keep Jiryiah’s name connected to service rather than only to the circumstances of his death. Their work also reflects a second path that emerged from the case: seeking change through both the Legislature and direct support for families in the community.
Texas lawmakers are scheduled to return for the next regular legislative session in 2027. Until a bill is filed, the scope of any renewed dangerous-dog proposal remains unknown, but Jiryiah’s parents say they intend to keep his death part of the public discussion.
Author note: Last updated Aug. 1, 2026.