Tragic Death of 12-Year-Old Boy A 12-year-old boy drowned after jumping into a lake while trying to escape three vicious dogs that were chasing him.
Police responded to reports of the drowning in Kern County where they found Fernando in the water.
They also discovered a young girl who had sustained “non-life threatening” dog bites, according to the California City Police Department.
Fernando was rushed to hospital where life-saving efforts were started, but sadly, he died just one day later on June 19.
The girl was also transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and was later released.
Witness statements led investigators to Kenneth Dobbins, 68, who said he had been in the park with his three dogs at the time of the drowning.
He told cops his pets had been with him the entire time.
According to the New York Post, Dobbins had not been taken into custody at the time.
Following a preliminary investigation, officers found Dobbins’ dogs had been the attacking trio and returned with a search warrant.
But when they arrived, the man and his canines had vanished.
The Los Angeles county later found and seized one of the dogs, while police have issued a plea to the public to help track down Dobbins and the remaining two animals.
The dog-owner was said to be “transient and a previously convicted felon with loose ties to California City as well as Palmdale”, according to police.
Dobbins has been described as 6ft 6in tall, weighing an estimated 250 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes.
A GoFundMe has since been set up for Fernando’s devastated family to help cover funeral costs for the beloved boy.
The fundraiser revealed his relatives had been “struggling to cope with this sudden loss”.
It has seen an outpouring of support, with people leaving comments remember Fernando has “bright and loving”.
“Fernando … brought joy to everyone around him,” one person wrote.
“He loved spending time outdoors, playing with his siblings, and making new friends.
