Staff Report

Grand jury indictments have been handed down related to the Dec. 3 dog attack on a 3-month-old in Tullahoma.  

On Dec. 3, Tullahoma Police Department officers were dispatched to 905 E. Warren Street in reference to a dog attack.

Upon arrival, officers found dogs actively mauling the infant and a deceased adult male (later identified as James Alexander Smith).

According to District Attorney General Craig Northcott, It was also immediately obvious to the officers that the infant had been killed.

 Upon further investigation, it was found that the home at this location was not fit for human habitation and it was condemned. At the time, there were at least four  adults and seven children residing in the home, including deceased infant and Smith.

“Following the thorough investigation by the Tullahoma Police Department, led by Inv. Jessica Taylor, the surviving adults were indicted by the Coffee County Grand Jury for their criminal offenses related to this situation for the children that were in their legal custody and care,” Northcott said in a statement.

Zacchae Tiana Meshelle Smith, age 27 of Coffee County, was indicted for 2nd Degree Murder as a Class A Felony and Child Abuse as a Class B felony. Sylvia Ann Smith, 70, of Coffee County, was indicted for three counts of Child Neglect as Class A misdemeanors and  Tilesia Nicoue Baugh, 33, of Coffee County, was indicted for three counts of Class A misdemeanors.

All are scheduled to appear in Coffee County Circuit Court on Sept. 25, for arraignment on their charges. Northcott said the investigation is ongoing.