The dog was being cared for
by the child's father
for a friend

---

By Craig Gima
Star-Bulletin

A pit bull attacked and killed an 18-month-old boy and seriously injured the toddler's mother in the Mountain View area of the Big Island last night.

Puna police said the boy's father returned home on Road 1 in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision with a friend about 6 p.m. and found the dog attacking 24-year-old Luana Moniz. The dog had already attacked the toddler, Tyran Moniz-Hilderbrand.

The father, Sandy Hilderbrand, 28, and the friend pulled the dog off Moniz and killed the animal with a pick-ax and then called 911, police said.

Moniz was taken to Hilo Medical Center where she underwent surgery and was reported in serious condition. Tyran Moniz-Hilderbrand was pronounced dead at the hospital at about 7:15 p.m. Hilderbrand was treated for bite wounds.

Police Lt. James Kelly said Hilderbrand was caring for the dog for a friend in Hilo. He described Hilderbrand as "pretty broken up" about the tragedy.

He said the remains of the dog will be examined by a veterinarian and police will be looking into whether there were any prior reports of attacks involving the pit bull.