The uncle of tragic John Paul Massey has been released after being grilled by detectives over the killing of the youngster by a savage American Pitbull terrier.
Christian Foulkes, 21, had been arrested on suspicion of the manslaughter of John Paul, 4, mauled to death by a banned Pitbull named "Uno" at a house in Liverpool.
He was released after more than eight hours of questioning at a police station.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "A 21-year-old man from the Wavertree are of Liverpool, arrested this morning on suspicion of the manslaughter of John Paul Massey has been released on police bail pending further inquiries."
His release came just hours after the John Paul's mother made a tearful visit to the street in Wavertree where her "chatterbox" son was killed in the early hours of Monday morning.
Dressed in black Angela McGlynn visited a neighbour's home in Ash Grove, just yards from the house where her son died.
Angela, aged about 40, spent half an hour at the friend's house and emerged clutching a condolences card and a small white and red teddy bear.
The heart-rending visit came as her brother Christian Foulkes was being quizzed by detectives investigating the killing John Paul.
The youngster's grandmother Helen Foulkes, 63, had battled in vain to stop the attack and protect the boy from the murderous jaws of the blood-crazed beast.
John Paul died at the scene from horrendous multiple tearing and tooth puncture-wound injuries to his head, neck and chest.
After the attack the dog was cornered by police dog handlers in the front garden and was then destroyed by two rifle bullets fired by a police marksman.
In a related inquiry the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating an allegations police failed to investigate a report, in February, that illegal dogs were being bred at the house where John Paul died.
Three weeks before the tragedy Christian Foulkes joined the Army and left "Uno" with his mother Helen.
He was stationed at Catterick Camp, North Yorkshire, undergoing basic training for service with The Rifles when he learned that Uno had savaged John Paul to death.
Before he joined the Army, Foulkes was frequently seen parading the snarling, muscle-bound animal around the streets of Wavertree.
Neighbours said white and grey coloured creature would growl at passers-by and often keep locals awake with incessant barking as it had the run of a litter-strewn back yard.
One neighbour said: "He loved parading around the neighbourhood with that dog straining on its leash, snarling and growling at anyone who came near.
"He was into bodybuilding and he thought it made him look tough to be have an angry dog pulling against him on the lead."
An MOD spokesman declined to comment on Foulkes' arrest but said his military career would be subject to review in light of any prosecution that may arise.
* The name Uno is an Italian word meaning "Number One".
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