2007 Fatality: Kelly Caldwell Killed by Loose Pit Bulls in California
Pit Bull Owners ArrestedUPDATE 09/18/08: The owners of pit bulls that mauled Kelly Caldwell to death on Christmas Day have been arrested. Both Jeffrey Dwayne King, Jr., 23, and John Allan Peterson, 23, of Yermo were arrested in Barstow on September 17 and booked in the Barstow Jail on suspicion of failure to control a mischievous animal, resulting in death, a felony.
08/10/08: DNA Confirms Pit Bulls in Deadly AttackTest results confirmed that blood found on the dogs matched DNA from the victim, 45-year-old Kelly Caldwell. The district attorney’s office will decide whether to file criminal charges against the dogs' owners, John Peterson and Jeff King. Caldwell’s mother, Carol Tanner, is relieved that after the seven months the case is moving forward.
12/30/07: Events Don't Add Up; Family in ShockEvents of this Christmas day tragedy still do not make sense to family members. The victim's daughter, Rhonda Dugger, who lived with Caldwell in Yermo and spent Christmas morning with her mother, does not understand why Caldwell was walking alone near Yermo Road and Second Street the night several dogs attacked and killed her.
Despite a medical condition that left Caldwell with weak lungs and forced her to always walk with a companion, her sister, Theresa Davies, said Caldwell was a tough woman who had a bit of a rough side. Both Davies and Dugger said sometimes Caldwell rubbed people the wrong way and she had enemies in Yermo but both still loved her.
Both Dugger and Davies said Caldwell’s body was badly damaged by the attack. Dugger said it looked like Caldwell’s legs had been run over by a car. Pieces of her body were scattered around the scene. Davies said she had skin nowhere else on her body but her face. "I can’t fathom it. I can’t believe an animal could do that," she said.
12/26/07: Yermo Woman Mauled to Death by Pit BullsSo far in 2007, dogs have killed 35 people. Of these deaths, 21 are attributed to pit bull type dogs (60% percent). The nearest rival breed is the rottweiler at 11% percent. Given that pit bulls only make up 4-9% of U.S. household dogs, there is a clearly a breed disproportionate problem in dog attacks that end in fatality.
In the instance of 45-year old Kelly Caldwell, she was attacked and killed by several loose pit bulls late Christmas day. Authorities are taking DNA samples from the dogs to determine which ones are responsible. During the investigation, two dogs were shot as officials attempted to secure the crime scene and gather evidence.
At this time, officials do no know how the dogs escaped their enclosure and what, if any, charges the owner of these animals might face.Labels: Fatality
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