Edmonton woman sentenced to house arrest in death of 11-year-old

Crystal MacDonald, 46, was sentenced Thursday to two years house arrest for criminal negligence causing death after her two Cane Corsos killed 11-year-old Kache Grist in her south Edmonton home on April 1, 2024.

Kache, who lived in Osoyoos, B.C. with his mother, was visiting for spring break when the attack occurred. MacDonald's roommate Wesley Grist, Kache's father, was working in the garage when the dogs attacked. Wesley Grist found his son 45 minutes later with what he described as a "bloody mess" on the kitchen floor.

The dogs, Khaos and Khairo, had a history of violence. Before killing Kache, they had killed two smaller pets and injured three people, including MacDonald herself. Khaos weighed nearly 124 pounds. After the attack, both dogs were euthanized.

Justice Eric Macklin found MacDonald showed "wanton and reckless" disregard for Kache's safety. MacDonald had asked Wesley Grist not to leave Kache alone with the dogs and had previously kenneled them and tried to enroll them in a training program after earlier attacks. But Macklin noted MacDonald's trial testimony was "evasive and defensive" and she "consistently attempted to either cast blame elsewhere or minimize her own responsibilities."

The Crown sought five years in prison; the defence argued for a conditional sentence with house arrest. Macklin sided with the defence, finding that house arrest would meet the principles of sentencing. MacDonald will serve her sentence in Penticton, B.C., where she relocated after the attack. She has been banned from owning dogs for life, though she may apply to have the ban lifted after 10 years.

City animal control officers did not seize the dogs after the earlier attacks, acting on "very limited information and conflicting accounts," Macklin noted. The judge found that decision "ultimately irrelevant" to MacDonald's guilt.