First picture of woman arrested after dog attack that killed boy, 9

A woman arrested after a nine-year-old was mauled to death by a ‘bulldog-type’ dog has been named.

Nail technician Sadie Totterdell, 28, was arrested by police about 20 miles away from the holiday park where Frankie Macritchie, from Plymouth, was found unresponsive at about 5am on Saturday.

She is understood to be a friend of the family who Frankie’s mother, Tawnee Willis, 28, was reportedly socialising with while her son was in an adjacent caravan with the dog, alleged to be her own, at the Tencreek Holiday Park, Cornwall.

Sadie Totterdell - **MUST CHECK ID BEFORE USE** https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005308424784&lst=100025043712815%3A100005308424784%3A1555319375&sk=timeline
Sadie Totterdell was named as the woman arrested after Frankie was mauled to death (Picture: Facebook)
Police tapes cordon off a large area around static caravans at the Tencreek Holiday Park, Looe, Cornwall today, April 14, 2019, where a ten-yer-old boy was tragically killed by a large dog in the early hours of Saturday morning. See SWNS story SWPLdog. Police were called to a caravan at Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe just before 5am on Saturday (13/4) morning, following reports of a 10-year-old boy in an unresponsive state after being attacked by a dog, believed to be a bulldog-type breed. Emergency services attended but tragically the child was pronounced deceased at the scene. The boy?s next of kin are aware and are being supported by police officers. Following this incident, searches were undertaken to locate the dog and its owner. Police arrested a 28-year-old woman in Saltash just after 8am on the same morning in connection to this matter. The dog was also located which has since been transferred to kennels.
The boy is believed to have been killed while he was in a caravan with the dog (Picture: SWNS)

It was reported earlier on Monday that the boy had been left alone with the dog, named Winston – despite him already having carried out four less serious attacks, one of which happened just weeks before the fatal incident.

Other families staying on the caravan site said they awoke to Ms Willis screaming ‘the dog’s attacked my boy’.

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Officers were called to the park shortly before 5am and found the youngster in an ‘unresponsive’ state.

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Emergency services attended but the child was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sadie’s mum Denise Totterdell, 58, told the MirrorOnline: ‘Sadie is not good at all. I am her mother. It is just tragic. It is still too raw we are all trying to still just process it, especially for the family as well.

‘It is just so, so sad.’

Frankie’s dad Billy Macritchie sent out a Facebook post on Sunday saying his life has been ‘shattered’ since his son passed.

In a heart-wrenching post, he wrote: ‘My whole world has shattered into a million pieces. Daddy is so lost without you little man, I really don’t know how I’m ever gonna live without you.

‘This should never have happened. I wish I could hold you and kiss you forever. You are my whole life and now your gone.

Relatives leave flowers at the entrance to Tencreek Holiday Park, Looe, Cornwall today. April 14, 2019, where Frankie Macritchie (9) was tragically killed by a large dog in the early hours of Saturday morning. See SWNS story SWPLdog. Police were called to a caravan at Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe just before 5am on Saturday (13/4) morning, following reports of a 9-year-old boy in an unresponsive state after being attacked by a dog, believed to be a bulldog-type breed. Emergency services attended but tragically the child was pronounced deceased at the scene. The boy?s next of kin are aware and are being supported by police officers. Following this incident, searches were undertaken to locate the dog and its owner. Police arrested a 28-year-old woman near Plymouth just after 8am on the same morning in connection to this matter. The dog was also located which has since been transferred to kennels.
Relatives arrived at the scene of the attack to leave their tributes (Picture: SWNS)

‘Sleep tight my darling boy, my best friend my everything.’

Frankie’s family was also seen arriving at the scene of the attack to leave flowers and tributes.

His aunt Danielle Macritchie left a bouquet and a handwritten note saying: ‘I’m so sorry this has happened. I am going to miss you till my heart stops beating. We love you baby boy.’

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Relatives leave flowers at the entrance to Tencreek Holiday Park, Looe, Cornwall today. April 14, 2019, where Frankie Macritchie (9) was tragically killed by a large dog in the early hours of Saturday morning. See SWNS story SWPLdog. Police were called to a caravan at Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe just before 5am on Saturday (13/4) morning, following reports of a 9-year-old boy in an unresponsive state after being attacked by a dog, believed to be a bulldog-type breed. Emergency services attended but tragically the child was pronounced deceased at the scene. The boy?s next of kin are aware and are being supported by police officers. Following this incident, searches were undertaken to locate the dog and its owner. Police arrested a 28-year-old woman near Plymouth just after 8am on the same morning in connection to this matter. The dog was also located which has since been transferred to kennels.
Frankie’s aunt left a sorrowful note (Picture: SWNS)

Brian Jones, head teacher at Riverside Primary School, called Frankie a ‘happy laid-back character’ who always had a ‘twinkle in his eyes’.

He told the BBC the school was doing ‘all we can to support those pupils and parents that have been touched by this terrible incident’.

Sadie was reportedly held on suspicion of manslaughter but has since been released ‘under investigation’.

The dog has been transferred to kennels where he remains. Police have said it is not down to them to decide whether it should be put down or not.