March 28, 2024

Discovery continued to Feb. 3 for Wright child endangerment trial

Prairie City woman charged in death of 4-year-old mauled by dog

Monday, pretrial discovery was continued until next month in the case of a Prairie City woman charged in the death of a young girl she was babysitting, who was mauled last year by the woman's dog.

Jena Marie Wright, 25, is charged with child endangerment resulting in death and neglect or abandonment resulting in death. She was babysitting 4-year-old Jordyn Arndt April 22, 2013, when Wright's American Staffordshire dog attacked the girl, causing extensive injuries to her head and neck area.

Arndt was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, where she died of her injuries the next day. Then-Prairie City Police Chief Louis Modlin took Wright into custody on the endangerment and neglect charges shortly thereafter.

Wright allegedly resisted arrest and assaulted Modlin in his attempt to take her into custody, which has led to additional charges of interference with official acts and assault on a peace officer causing bodily injury. Trial in the matter has been set for Feb. 19.

A pretrial conference scheduled for Monday morning was continued to allow for additional discovery. A new pretrial conference has been scheduled for Monday, Feb. 3, to hear any additional pretrial motions.