Police Hunt Owner After Child’s Death

Police gathered at an urban crime scene.

A 12-year-old boy drowned in a California park after three unleashed dogs chased him into a lake — and the man police say owned those dogs is now a fugitive.

Story Snapshot

Fernando Torres Moreno, 12, drowned on June 18, 2026, after jumping into a lake to escape three attacking dogs at a California City park.
An 8-year-old girl with the group was mauled by the same dogs during the attack.
Police identified 68-year-old Kenneth Dobbins as the dogs’ owner and charged him with involuntary manslaughter and negligent ownership of a dangerous animal.
Dobbins fled before officers could serve the arrest warrant and remains at large.

A Boy Dies Running From Three Dogs

On June 18, 2026, a group of children was at Central Park in California City, in Kern County, when three dogs attacked them. Twelve-year-old Fernando Torres Moreno ran from the dogs and jumped into a lake to escape. He drowned. An 8-year-old girl in the group was mauled. California City Councilman Ron Smith called it a heartbreaking tragedy, saying the community must “sympathize with those who have suffered such loss.” A GoFundMe was set up to help Fernando’s family.

Officers responded to the park the same evening. At 6:09 PM that day, police visited a nearby condominium and photographed a man, his clothing, and three dogs — not yet knowing his connection to the attack. That man was Kenneth Dobbins, 68. As the investigation moved forward, eyewitness accounts and victim information led police to identify Dobbins as the owner of the dogs involved in the attack.

Arrest Warrant Issued, Suspect Runs

By June 23, 2026, California City police had enough evidence to act. They issued an arrest warrant charging Dobbins with involuntary manslaughter and negligent ownership of a dangerous animal causing serious injury and death. When officers returned to serve that warrant, Dobbins was gone. He had fled. The next day, on June 24, police recovered one of the three dogs in Los Angeles County. Two dogs remain missing.

Dobbins’ flight from law enforcement raises serious questions about accountability. Police nationwide file criminal charges in only about 20% of fatal dog attack cases. ^[16] This case is one of them — and the man charged is now a fugitive. His prior criminal history adds another layer. Court records show Dobbins was previously sentenced to 11 to 22 years for attempted rape and was required to register as a sex offender. ^[8] That background will not help his case if he is ever caught.

California Law Puts Full Blame on Dog Owners

California holds dog owners fully responsible when their animals attack someone in a public place. Under California Civil Code Section 3342, owners face strict liability for bites. That means the victim does not need to prove the owner was careless or that the dog had bitten before. Ownership alone is enough to create legal responsibility. ^[10] Fernando and the other children were at a public park. Under the law, Dobbins faces full civil liability — on top of the criminal charges already filed against him.

Kenneth Dobbins, 68, has been arrested in connection with a June 18th dog attack that led to the death of 12-year-old Fernando Torres Moreno at a California City park.

Los Angeles County deputies arrested Dobbins in Lancaster on Thursday after a citizen spotted him walking near… pic.twitter.com/t3kY03nLkG

— Mike Netter (@nettermike) June 26, 2026

This case is a reminder that irresponsible pet ownership has real consequences. A 12-year-old boy is dead. A little girl was mauled. A family is shattered. The man police say caused this is hiding. Letting dangerous dogs run loose in a public park — where children play — is not just reckless. It is the kind of negligence that ends lives. Communities deserve better than that, and the law should make sure Dobbins faces justice when he is found.