DA: Pittsburgh zoo dog-mauling probe all but over
PITTSBURGH — The Allegheny County district attorney expects to close his investigation into the death of a boy who was mauled by African painted dogs at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium last fall.
District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. makes his announcement as the zoo announces that it is closing the exhibit and moving the 10 wild canines once kept there to other zoos.
Zoo President Dr. Barbara Baker says the zoo community and the community at large “need time to heal” from the death of little Maddox Derkosh, who was killed Nov. 4 when he fell from the railing of an observation platform overlooking the exhibit.
Zappala says he’s found no evidence of criminal conduct so far and expects to close his investigation unless an ongoing U.S. Department of Agriculture review turns up any serious problems.