4-Year-Old's 'Scalp Was Torn Off' in Dog Attack, Says Relative, as Mom and Boyfriend Arrested

Lillianna Stratman, 4, was attacked by a dog while visiting her mother, say police

A Nebraska girl is recovering after a brutal dog attack last month left her with severe injuries.

On Feb. 20, 4-year-old Lillianna Stratman was attacked by a dog while visiting with her mother, according to an Omaha Police report obtained by PEOPLE. Officers responded to reports of a violent attack, and according to a GoFundMe organized by the girl’s great aunt, her scalp was “torn off.”

“Her cheek bone was broken, she has torn ligaments in her neck and stitches all over her body,” Lillianna's great aunt Kimberly Lane Koterba wrote on fundraising page in February, adding that her great niece was previously diagnosed with spina bifida and that she expected the girl to have multiple surgeries.

According to the police report, the girl’s mother, Danielle Stratman, 24, allegedly hid from police at her boyfriend's home to change out of her bloody clothes, which police claim she hid under a bed. Lillianna was quickly taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for her injuries, police said.

Although the dog, a Cane Corso-mastiff mix belonging to Stratman's boyfriend, Greg Preister, was not present at the scene when police arrived, Animal Control eventually located the dog at Preister's home, police said. The dog was later voluntarily surrendered to the Nebraska Humane Society, where it was euthanized and tested for rabies. No diseases were found, according to the Humane Society.

“We immediately euthanized the dog and sent the tissue out for testing due to the severity of the injuries and where they were located,” Nebraska Humane Society representative Pam Wiese told KETV. "It needs to be expedited because the injuries were very close to the brain."

Stratman and Preister were later arrested on charges of obstruction, and Stratman was also charged with violating a no-contact order after being arrested on charges of child abuse and domestic assault earlier in February, the outlet reported. Preister was later cited with harboring a dangerous dog and having a pet damage property.

It's not immediately clear if either suspect has entered pleas to any of the charges they face. PEOPLE was not able to reach attorneys for them.

Lilliana was released into the custody of her father, according to the police report.

Local community members flooded to the girl's GoFundMe — which has garnered over $3,000 donations so far — and shared messages of support for the 4-year-old.

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“If it were one of my children or grandchildren, I would want all the help I could get to make sure I could get all the help needed to pay for surgeries and mental strength,” one donor wrote.

“My heart truly goes out to the family. Praying for you all,” another added.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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