The death of 2-month-old Aiden was ruled a homicide, according to County Coroner Chris Nisbet. The coroner had ordered the autopsy to determine whether anything contributed to the child’s death before he was attacked by the Labrador retriever mix, but that wasn’t the case.

Nisbet said in a statement that neglect led to “animal eating,” which killed Aiden.

Lt. Tony Phinney, supervisor of the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division, said detectives are waiting for additional information. Working with state agencies and Solicitor David Pascoe, they won’t iron out charges against McGrew for at least another week.

McGrew’s criminal history shows only an October 2007 conviction for check fraud, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.

“It is a horrible case,” Phinney said. “We just want to make sure everything is in order.”

Attempts to contact Pascoe were not successful.

Deputies were called to the mobile home at 151 Sandpit Road after 11 a.m. Friday and found that the family’s Labrador retriever mix had attacked Aiden. His mother reported in a 911 call that the baby’s leg was torn off.

The child was pronounced dead a short time later at Summerville Medical Center.

Authorities have called the case one of the most gruesome they have handled.

Sheriff L.C. Knight said last week that McGrew was lying in bed with the family’s other dog and their 3-year-old. Aiden was in a bedroom swing when he was first bitten, the sheriff said.

The boy’s mother, Chantel McGrew, and her 7-year-old returned home and found the scene.

Responding deputies later reported that the four family members were outside the home as paramedics frantically worked to save the child on the living room floor.

http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/04/24/3917668/sc-coroner-dogs-mauling-death.html