March 28, 2024

Jury seated 2013 dog-mauling death of Prairie City child

Jury selection concluded Wednesday in the case of a 26-year-old Prairie City woman charged with child endangerment in the 2013 dog-mauling death of 4-year-old Jordyn Arndt.

A jury of 10 men and four women was seated before adjourning at 3:30 p.m.

Court will resume with opening arguments 9 a.m. Thursday at the Jasper County Courthouse. District Court Judge Richard Clogg estimates the trial to last six to seven days.

Defense counsel for Jena M. Wright and Assistant Jasper County Attorney Kelly Bennett began questioning potential jurors at 10:30 a.m.regarding preconceived notions they may hold about the case and possible relationships with parties involved.

A witness expected to take testify for the defense is canine expert Ron Berman. During questioning, potential jurors expressed opinions about certain dog breeds and some said they believed the nature of dogs depends on how the pets are raised.

Wright is accused of leaving Arndt unattended with an American Staffordshire terrier at 300 S. Marshall St. in Prairie City, April 22, 2013. According to the initial police report, Wright was babysitting the 4-year-old girl at the time of the animal attack, which caused injuries ultimately resulting in the child’s death.

The defendant could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of child endangerment resulting in death, a Class B felony, and up to 10 years for a conviction of neglect or abandonment, a Class C felony.

The case has been in the court system for nearly two years, plagued by multiple delays.

Wright is also facing charges of assault on a peace officer causing bodily injury and interference with official acts in this case. Wright allegedly kicked the arresting officer — former Prairie City Police Chief Louis Modlin — in the chest during a struggle at 601 S. Norris St. in Prairie City.