UPDATED APRIL 2018

2014 dog bite fatalities ::

Statistical information gathered by DogsBite.org is verifiable through news reports and other criteria.1 Our Fatality Citations section documents sources used in our dog bite fatality research.

2014 dog bite fatality statistics2

2014 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities by Breed
2014 fatal dog attacks by breed
2014 dog bite fatality chart

In 2014, 1 dog bite fatality involved canines from 3 different breeds, thus producing a death count total of 45 rather than 43. Eight dog breeds each contributed to 1 death, including: Australian cattle dog, Australian shepherd, cane corso, catahoula leopard dog, hound, keeshond-mix, mastiff-mix and shepherd-mix.

2014 analysis and 10-year period summary

  • 43 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2014. Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 700 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 65% (28) of these deaths. Pit bulls make up about 6% of the total U.S. dog population.3
  • Together, pit bulls (28) and rottweilers (4), the second most lethal dog breed, accounted for 74% of the total recorded deaths in 2014. This same combination also accounted for 74% of all fatal attacks during the 10-year period of 2005 to 2014.
  • The breakdown between these two breeds is substantial over this 10-year period. From 2005 to 2014, pit bulls killed 205 Americans, about one citizen every 18 days, versus rottweilers, which killed 38, about one citizen every 96 days.
  • In the year of 2014, the combination of pit bulls (28), rottweilers (4) and mastiff-type guard dogs and war dogs (4) -- the types used to create "baiting" bull breeds and fighting breeds -- accounted for 84% (36) of all dog bite-related fatalities.4
  • Annual data from 2014 shows that 44% (19) of the fatality victims were children 9-years and younger, 2% (1) were teenagers and 53% (23) were adults, 19-years and older. Of the total adults killed by dogs, 70% (16) were 50-years and older.
  • Annual data shows that when combining all age groups, female victims (24) were greater in number than male victims (19). Among adults 50-years and older, female victims, 81% (13), substantially outnumbered male victims, 19% (3).
  • In 2014, 19% (8), of all dog bite fatality victims were either visiting or living temporarily with the dog's owner when the fatal attack occurred, down from 41% in 2013. Children 9-years and younger accounted for 88% (7) of these deaths.
  • 58% (25) of all fatalities in 2014 involved more than one dog; 21% (9) involved a pack attack of four or more dogs; 33% (14) involved breeding on the dog owner's property either actively or in the recent past and 5% (2) involved tethered dogs.
  • Dog ownership information for 2014 shows that family dogs comprised 47% (20) of all fatal attack occurrences, 42% (18) of the attacks occurred off the dog owner's property, up from 22% in 2013, and 30% (13) resulted in criminal charges.
  • Texas led lethal dog attacks in 2014 with 7 deaths. 86% (6) were attributed to pit bulls and 43% (3) resulted in felony charges. Florida followed with 5 deaths, North Carolina with 4 deaths and Alabama, Mississippi and Ohio each with 3 deaths.
  • Jurisdictions in three states each incurred 2 dog bite fatalities in 2014 -- Bell County, Texas, Montgomery County, Ohio and Benton County, Mississippi. Both attacks in Benton County were carried out by the same pit bulls within a 2.5 month period.

Discussion notes and graphics

The below items were issued when annual statistics were originally published on February 11, 2015. New fatalities and updates to our 2014 Fatality Statistics may have been added since.

2014 dog bite fatality victims

2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Christina Burleson

Christina Bell

43-years old | Houston, Texasicon

Christina Bell, 43-years old, also known as Christina Burleson, was brutally killed by at least two pit bulls a few hours before dawn. The loose dogs also attacked two other people, one of whom tried to help Bell. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined "blunt and sharp force injuries of the neck and upper extremities," as the preliminary cause of death. Officials captured one 30-pound female pit bull shortly after the attack. That dog was "covered in blood" later determined to match Bell, according to Christopher Newport, a city spokesman for the BARC animal shelter. Tiara Thomas, the dog's owner, also had four pit bull puppies in her home. Thomas was cited for a litany of misdemeanor violations. On July 1, 2014 Harris County prosecutors charged Thomas and Timothy Coleman under the state felony dog attack law. Police were unable to identify the owner of the second attacking pit bull or to locate the animal. [source citations]

Date of death: January 5, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Female Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Betty Clark

Betty Clark

75-years old | Canyon Lake, Texasicon

Betty Clark, 75-years old, was viciously attacked by two pit bulls while delivering Christmas presents in her neighborhood on December 21, 2013. She was discovered unresponsive with bite injuries covering her body. She died on January 6, 2014 at University Hospital having never regained consciousness. The horrific December attack was never reported by the local media. Her death went unreported to the public until April 13, when University Hospital doctors released information about Clark's death and a second pit bull mauling in the area that resulted in the death of 83-year old Petra Aguirre on April 11. Aguirre also died at University Hospital just under two weeks after being attacked by her neighbor's pit bull. On June 4, 2014 a Comal County grand jury indicted Rachelle Lucas, 47, and Peter Lucas, 49, both of Canyon Lake, for allowing their two pit bulls to roam free and cause the death of Betty Clark. The criminal trial, held five years later, resulted in a jury acquitting both Lucases. [source citations]

Date of death: January 6, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Kara Hartrich

Kara Hartrich

4-years old | Bloomington, Illinoisicon

Kara Hartrich, 4-years old, was attacked and killed by at least two of her family's three pit bulls on her 4th birthday. The attack occurred at her home in the 2000 block of Parker Avenue in Bloomington. Police and fire and rescue were dispatched to the residence after receiving an emergency call. Upon arrival, rescue personnel found an unresponsive 4-year old girl with multiple dog bites. She was transported by ambulance to Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal where she was pronounced dead by emergency department staff. McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling said the autopsy the following day determined that she died of massive blood loss and multiple dog bites to her head, neck and arms. At the time of attack, Kara was home with her 2-year old sister being babysat by her grandmother. Mclean County Animal Control seized all three of the family's adult pit bulls -- two unneutered males, the primary attackers, and a spayed female. All three pit bulls were humanely destroyed. [source citations]

Date of death: January 17, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (3) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Parents
Spay/Neuter: Mixed Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, Annabell Martin

Annabell Martin

89-years old | Corona, Californiaicon

Annabell Martin, 89-years old, was discovered dead in her garage after being fatally mauled by her grandson's three rottweilers. The victim's daughter discovered her badly bitten body, according to a news report. Dispatch received a call about 4:40 pm on January 26 to a home on the 1500 block of Pera Street, according to Corona police Capt. Tom Weeks. They found the woman dead with signs of being attacked by the dogs. Martin died at some unknown time earlier that day, Sgt. Kurt James, of the Riverside County coroner’s office said. The coroner's website listed Martin as a, "victim of dog mauling." When police officers arrived, the rottweilers lunged at them, causing an officer to shoot and kill one of the dogs. The other two dogs were confiscated and euthanized, according to Weeks. The grandson told police his dogs had no history of aggressive behavior. Officials had no record of animal control receiving complaints from the home. [source citations]

Date of death: January 26, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Rottweiler (3) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Grandson
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, Klonda Richey

Klonda Richey

57-years old | Dayton, Ohio

Klonda Richey, 57-years old, was brutally attacked, stripped naked and killed by her neighbor's two dogs in front of her home. Her death was "very traumatic, and very painful," according to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office. Dayton Police shot and killed both dogs on scene and reported the dogs were pit bulls. Mark Kumpf, the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center (ARC) director, then declared the dogs "mastiff-mixes" to the local media and "cane corsos" to the coroner's office. Despite 13 complaints made by Richey to ARC about these dogs leading up to the lethal attack, no one at ARC had even seen the dogs prior to police killing them. The victim had also called 911 dispatch center 46 times to report issues with her neighbor and his dogs, built a two-tiered security fence and installed surveillance cameras for her safety and filed a civil stalking protection order against her neighbor, which was denied. On September 11, a grand jury failed to indict the dogs' owners on felony charges. [source citations]

Date of death: February 7, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Mastiff-mix (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes (MISD)
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Jevaeh Mayes

Je'vaeh Mayes

2-years old | Temple, Texasicon

Je'vaeh Mayes, 2-years old, was severely mauled by a chained pit bull that her family was watching for a friend. She was pronounced dead at Scott & White Hospital about two hours later. At the time of the attack, the female pit bull, along with her two puppies, were secured in the backyard of her family's home. Je'vaeh entered into the backyard without her family's knowledge, according to police. At some point, the dog attacked her resulting in life-threatening injuries. The little girl's mother, Cherella Lyles, said she left her daughter in the bedroom watching cartoons before the attack. No one knew she had slipped out of the house until it was too late. "The mother of the puppies attacked my baby,” Lyles said. According to neighbors, Je'vaeh's family also owned a pit bull. The owner of the visiting pit bull told police the dog had never shown aggression before. Police had no reports on file of previous attacks by the visiting pit bull. Authorities confiscated the attacking pit bull and her two puppies. [source citations]

Date of death: February 17, 2014 Chained: Yes
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Female Owner of dog: Family friend
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Braelynn Coulter

Braelynn Coulter

3-years old | High Point, North Carolinaicon

Braelynn Coulter, 3-years old, was killed by one of her family's two pit bulls. Police were called to a home on Big Creek Court in connection to a dog bite, but a family member had already taken the child to High Point Regional Hospital. The child suffered traumatic injuries to her lower abdomen and did not survive, according to police. A family spokesperson said the child was "playing when the dog suddenly attacked." A neighbor spoke out right away, saying the dogs had exhibited aggression in the past. Just a few months earlier, both pit bulls had broken through a fence and attacked a dog being walked by its owner, said Katherine Dixon, who has three young children of her own. She said that incident is what "put us on high alert about the dogs." Braelynn's family also had two "Beware of Dog" warning signs on their home. Authorities seized the attacking pit bull; the other pit bull remains in the home. After the little girl's death, local and national media, including Nancy Grace, scrutinized her parents. [source citations]

Date of death: February 24, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Parents
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, Summer Sears

Summer Sears

4-years old | Tallassee, Alabama

Summer Sears, 4-years old, was mauled to death by at least one loose dog while playing in the backyard of her grandfather's home. Police responded to a call of a small child being attacked by dogs on Lower Tuskegee Road. When they arrived, they found the girl in the living room of the home covered in bite marks. She was pronounced dead at the scene. After not hearing from Summer for about 30-minutes, her grandfather went outside to check on her and saw a white dog dragging her. He rushed her inside and called 911. Police seized the suspected dog, a white shepherd-mix, and another dog that might have been involved. Tallassee Police Chief, Jimmy Rodgers described her injuries as, "it's what you'd envision when somebody gets attacked by a wild bear." Both dogs belonged to a neighbor. Summer's body was sent to forensic sciences to determine if one or both dogs were involved in the attack. No criminal charges are anticipated; the area where the attack occurred did not have a leash law. [source citations]

Date of death: February 26, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Shepherd-mix Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Unknown
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, Kenneth Santillan

Kenneth Santillan

13-years old | Paterson, New Jersey

Kenneth Santillan, 13-years old, was fatally attacked by a bullmastiff that reportedly leaped over its owner's 4-foot fence. The boy had been walking home from school with his best friend, also 13-years old, along a narrow stretch of grass that ran behind the dog owner's home when confronted by the 115-pound dog. Both boys ran in separate directions. His friend was seen running down the street with a bleeding hand at about 4:30 pm by neighbors. Kenneth was discovered 7-hours later, at 11:20 pm, along an embankment of Molly Ann Brook, half-submerged in the water. The brook is also located behind the dog owner's home. Simultaneous to the search being carried out to find Kenneth, animal control was notified at about 10 pm that "at some point" the same dog had attacked its owner, Paul Clarke, and that Clarke in turn stabbed his dog multiple times. The male bullmastiff was euthanized by animal control on the scene. As of March 20, 2014, no criminal charges have been filed. [source citations]

Date of death: February 28, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Bullmastiff Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Property owner
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, Raymane Robinson, Jr.

Raymane Robinson, Jr.

2-years old | Killeen, Texas

Raymane Robinson, Jr., 2-years old, was killed by a bullmastiff while walking home from a playground. The toddler, along with an 8-year old girl and 18-year old man were walking on a sidewalk in a residential neighborhood when the animal charged out of its owner's garage and attacked the girl. Witnesses were able to pry the large dog off the girl, according to police. The dog then attacked the toddler, latching onto him, dragging him down the street. An unknown person fired shots during the attack, scaring the dog, which fled back into its owner's garage. Neighbors rushed to help; one was a nurse who began administering CPR to the injured boy. Both children were transported to Darnall Army Medical Center; Raymane did not survive. The medical examiner said the boy died of penetrating and blunt force injuries. Neighbors said the owner of the dog was away at the time and the dog was being "watched by his mother." In April, police and prosecutors confirmed that no criminal charges would be filed. [source citations]

Date of death: March 1, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Bullmastiff Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Property tenant
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Nancy Newberry

Nancy Newberry

77-years old | Phoenix, Arizonaicon

Nancy Newberry, 77-years old, was attacked by her daughter's pit bull and bled to death. The attack occurred at the victim's home where she lived with her husband and daughter and three family dogs. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control spokesman Melissa Gable said the woman was feeding the dog around 8 p.m. when it attacked her. She was taken to John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital with life-threatening injuries where she died. Her husband, Dick Newberry, said the dog bit into her abdomen and her hand. Dick said he and his daughter pulled the dog off of her then saw "blood gushing out of Nancy." The location of the abdomen injury was the area of a previous operation that required grafting, according to her husband. He added that the dog had "always been a little aggressive" and had "nipped" a couple of his daughter's friends in the past. The 4-year old male pit bull named Titan, which had been neutered, was euthanized at the request of the owner the following day. [source citations]

Date of death: March 14, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Daughter
Spay/Neuter: Yes Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Mia Derouen

Mia DeRouen

4-years old | Houma, Louisianaicon

Mia DeRouen, 4-years old, was horrifically killed by her family's pit bull that police officers categorized as a "monster." Mia and her mother were watching TV in their apartment when the 130-pound male pit bull suddenly attacked the girl. The mother was able to free Mia from the dog then barricaded herself and her daughter inside a bedroom and called 911. The dog was still aggressive and running wild in the apartment when emergency responders arrived; the mother had to hand her daughter to paramedics through the bedroom window. Police shot the dog through a different window three times. When police entered the unit, the dog jumped up and attacked the officers and bolted outside. The officers gunned the animal down by firing 10 more shots into it. Authorities seized a second pit bull from the home that was not involved in the attack. As of July 13, 2014, neither the mother or her boyfriend, who owned the attacker, have spoken to police on the advice of their attorneys. No criminal charges have been filed. [source citations]

Date of death: March 25, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull-American bully mix (XL) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Mother's boyfriend
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Christopher Malone

Christopher Malone

3-years old | Holmes County, Mississippiicon

Christopher Malone, 3-years old, was mauled to death by two pit bulls owned by family members. The attack occurred in the unincorporated community of Thornton. The dogs had been secured in a chain-linked pen behind the home, but somehow escaped and attacked the child who was playing nearby, according to family members. "The dogs just jumped him and took him down and drugged him in the back and killed him, ate him up," said Lucy Mayze, the victim's aunt. The boy's mother discovered his body behind the family's home. She was hospitalized for injuries she suffered when she tried to pull the dogs off her son. Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said, "When the deputies made it there, they found a young kid that'd been deceased from two pit bulls." Animal control officers seized both pit bulls, each about a year old. Currently, there is no pit bull ordinance in Holmes County, but Sheriff March voiced his support for a countywide ban after the boy's death. Criminal charges are not anticipated. [source citations]

Date of death: March 31, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Family member
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Dorothy Hamilton

Dorothy Hamilton

85-years old | Kaufman, Texasicon

Dorothy Hamilton, 85-years old, was fatally attacked by her son's two pit bulls inside a home they shared. Her son, Michael Hamilton, was away at the time of the attack. He arrived home and found his mother dead. He called 911 at approximately 4:46 pm. Kaufman police arrived on scene two minutes later and discovered the victim deceased in the living room area. There were two large, "very aggressive pit bulls" inside the home, police said, and it appeared the animals had attacked her. The victim's son told police the dogs were normally locked in a bedroom. Police believe the dogs broke through the door and attacked the woman. Authorities seized a total of 8 pit bulls from the home. The other six were being housed in substandard pens outside. All eight pit bulls were euthanized. Neighbors had complained about the dogs running loose and acting aggressive in the past. On April 14, the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of death as "dog mauling with lacerations and puncture wounds." [source citations]

Date of death: March 31, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Son
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, John Harvard

John Harvard

5-years old | Riverside, Alabamaicon

John Harvard, 5-years old, was attacked and killed by his neighbor's pit bull. At the time of the attack, he was playing in his yard on Honeysuckle Way when the animal came onto his property. His 9-year old brother, Bradley, was on his way home from a nearby friend's house when he saw the vicious attack. Bradley drove his bicycle right into the fray and began kicking and pounding on the dog. Then he ran inside to get his father for help. The boy's father grabbed a gun and shot at the dog several times, causing it to flee. The father then rushed his injured son to St. Vincent's St. Clair Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The father later told reporters it was the "most horrific thing a parent could ever see." The pit bull was 8-months old and belonged to the next-door neighbor. On June 17, 2014, the dog's owner, Johnny Ray Kay Sr., 57, of Riverside, was indicted on a misdemeanor count of criminally negligent homicide. If convicted, he faces up to 12-months in the county jail and a $6,000 fine. [source citations]

Date of death: April 6, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Yes Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes (MISD)
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Petra Aguirre

Petra Aguirre

83-years old | San Antonio, Texasicon

Petra Aguirre, 83-years old, was viciously attacked by her neighbor's pit bulls while feeding her cats in her own backyard. She died while hospitalized just under two weeks later at University Hospital. Family members and authorities said the dogs crawled under a fence and mauled the woman "from her scalp to her toes." Her nephew, Simon Yanez, said, "She had bites on her arms, on her legs, her neck, her skull, her ear." The dogs that attacked Aguirre were both female pit bull-mixes that had previously bitten a teenager. In May 2013, the two pit bulls, along with another dog owned by Perla Rojas, attacked a 13-year old boy who had been walking down the street. Aguirre was living with her two brothers and nephew when Rojas' dogs mauled her. Her nephew was away at work and her brothers could not hear the attack, family members said. On November 24, 2014 Perla Rojas was indicted on a felony charge of dog attack leading to death. She pleaded guilty in October 2015 and was sentenced to 5-years in jail. [source citations]

Date of death: April 11, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Female Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Jessica Norman

Jessica Norman

33-years old | Sebring, Floridaicon

Jessica Norman, 33-years old, was discovered dead and unclothed in a ditch near the back of her property on April 30. Family members last saw her alive on April 28. Police and autopsy reports released to the media in October stated Norman had both alcohol and methamphetamine in her system and puncture wounds on her body consistent with canine bites. Dog bites were listed as a contributing cause of death. Highlands County Sheriff's Office investigators believe that three aggressive pit bulls owned by Lisa Hodge inflicted the bite injuries. Highlands County Animal Control euthanized three pit bulls owned by Lisa Hodge over the course of the investigation. Highlands County Animal Control Officer Ralph Smith said they were the most aggressive dogs he had dealt with in 11-years. Though DNA evidence was unable to produce a profile in order to match Hodge's dogs to the attack, sheriff's investigators still concluded that Hodge's pit bulls inflicted the bite injuries. No criminal charges were filed. [source citations]

Date of death: April 28, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (3) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Katie Morrison

Katie Morrison

20-years old | Phenix City, Alabamaicon

Katie Morrison, 20-years old, was viciously attacked by three pit bull-mix dogs on April 28 while visiting the dog owner's home. Katie had been with the owner and her dogs for three hours in preparation to dog-sit at a future time. While playing fetch with the dogs, Katie knelt down to pick up a ball and one of the pit bulls launched an attack. The two other pit bulls quickly joined in. The dogs ripped off her whole scalp in the attack. Neighbor Gabby Witt saw Katie, "I looked over the fence and I saw that lady laying there. What I remember was her head -- there was almost no hair left." She was transported to a hospital in Columbus then transferred to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said that Katie died from complications of the severe injuries she received in the attack. "She suffered a severe head injury and multiple puncture and laceration wounds over her body," Harris stated. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said that her death would be reviewed by a grand jury at a later time. [source citations]

Date of death: May 3, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix (3) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Friend
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, Nyhiem Wilfong

Nyhiem Wilfong

1-year old | Caldwell County, North Carolinaicon

Nyhiem Wilfong, 1-year old, was mauled to death by a chained rottweiler in front of his 5-year old cousin while visiting his grandfather's home. He was at his grandfather's home while his mother was out looking for a job. Ervin Patterson, the boy's grandfather, was sleeping when he heard his 5-year old grandson screaming. Patterson rushed outside and found Nyhiem bloody and covered in mud with the dog lying on top of him. He tried to administer CPR, but it was too late. Shirley Patterson, the boy's great-grandmother, said the children went out to the swing set, so she assumed that is where they were playing. The two boys, however, had wandered into the area where the grandfather's new rottweiler was attached to a long chain. Patterson told authorities that he only had the dog for three weeks. Police said the toddler suffered serious injuries to both his head and chest. He was rushed to Caldwell Memorial Hospital where he died. As of May 10, 2014, no criminal charges have been filed. [source citations]

Date of death: May 4, 2014 Chained: Yes
Breed of dog: Rottweiler Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Grandfather
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Kasii Haith

Kasii Haith

4-years old | Kent County, Delaware

Kasii Haith, 4-years old, was mauled to death by three pit bulls while visiting a friend with his mother. He and his mother, Kyiesha Haith, had been outside with the dogs most of the day. She made a brief trip to the bathroom and returned to find her son in the jaws of the dogs. She quickly intervened and received multiple bite injuries to her arms. Two repairmen working at the home also tried to save the boy, fending off the animals with PVC piping, according to state police. EMC responded to the scene, but it was too late. Kasii was pronounced dead on scene. The boy had been around the dogs "numerous times in the past" without incident, said Master Cpl. Gary Fournier, state police spokesman. Kyiesha, who was several months pregnant, was taken to a local hospital and treated for her injuries where she received 20 stitches. The three pit bulls, a mother and her two offspring, both about a year old, were euthanized. None of the dogs were spayed or neutered. No criminal charges are expected. [source citations]

Date of death: May 7, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (3) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Friend
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Rita Pepe

Rita Pepe

93-years old | Branford, Connecticuticon

Rita Pepe, 93-years old, was viciously attacked by a pit bull-mix while walking near her home on April 13. She sustained a massive amount of trauma to her lower left leg, according to Sgt. Richard Dahlin. The dog bolted out of its owner's back door and attacked. Several neighbors ran to her aid and fought off the pit bull using the victim's cane and a baseball bat. The dog's owner, Matthew Radulski, told police he had to "strike [his dog] over the head numerous times with a rock in order to get him away from Pepe." Radulski adopted the dog in October from the Branford Animal Shelter. Director Laura Burban said the dog "underwent extensive evaluations by staff, volunteers and trainers" before hand. The shelter adoption listing vaguely identified the dog as a "terrier-mix" who "loves to play." Rita died 6-weeks after the attack. Doctors told her son that the trauma and extended inactivity as a result of the bites worsened her condition. After her death, Burban confirmed the dog had been euthanized. [source citations]

Date of death: May 25, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Yes Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, Holden William Garrison

Holden Garrison

10-weeks old | Davisburg, Michigan

Holden Garrison, 10-weeks old, was mauled to death by his family's dog. The boy's uncle was on the couch holding the baby when the attack occurred. The dog, described as a "Catahoula cattle hound," tried to jump up on the couch and the uncle pushed the dog away. After the boy's mother sat down on the couch, the animal jumped up again, this time attacking the boy's head and throat. The two adults tried to fight off the dog and screamed for the father to help. The father "pried open the dog's jaws" to free his son and later received stitches for his injuries. The arriving deputy found the child's father placing him in the front seat of a truck to take him to the hospital. The deputy immediately began CPR. The child was transported to Genesys Regional Medical Center then airlifted to William Beaumont Hospital, where he died. The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his cause of death as multiple head trauma and the manner as accidental. The family had owned the female dog for over 2-years. [source citations]

Date of death: June 9, 20145 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Catahoula leopard dog Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Female Owner of dog: Parents
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Derrick Sanders

Derrick Sanders

45-years old | Lamar, Mississippiicon

Derrick Sanders, 45-years old, was discovered dead lying in a ditch off Highway 7 in the small town of Lamar. "His throat was split. He has a wide cut by the neck," his sister Latora Cotton said. Just a few feet from his body, they also saw his clothing scattered across their yard. The Benton County Sheriff's Office initially believed it was a homicide. On September 20, David Glass Sr., 50-years old, was found in the same state in a nearby location. "He was chewed up pretty bad, marks all over him, left ear torn off, clothes torn off, shoes torn off," Benton County Sheriff Arnie McMullen said. He was barely alive, but was able to tell McMullen what happened before being airlifted to a hospital, where he later died. Glass had been attacked by a pack of pit bulls. Detectives later determined that three or more pit bulls belonging to Eric Hodges, 35, killed both men. In February 2018, Hodges was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter in connection to the mauling deaths of Derrick Sanders and David Glass Sr. [source citations]

Date of death: July 4, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (3-6) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Logan Sheppard

Logan Sheppard

4-years old | Riverview, Floridaicon

Logan Sheppard, 4-years old, was killed by his uncle's two pit bulls. The attack happened after Logan and his mother who lived nearby walked to the home of his mother's sister, Delores Fredericks. Before the two arrived, her husband, Billy Fredericks Sr., crated his two pit bulls in an outdoor pen. Once inside the home, Logan was given a bowl of ice cream and watched cartoons while the adults went into the next room to talk. Logan's teenage cousin was in the room with him, according to family members, but Logan slipped outside unnoticed. The two pit bulls somehow became "uncrated" and attacked the boy. The boy's screams alerted family members and two deputies, who were working an unrelated traffic stop nearby -- deputies were on scene within seconds. They found Logan on the ground with the dogs standing over him. He was already dead. The boy's father, Michael Sheppard, accused Billy of uncrating his dogs after his son was inside the home. Police did not confirm this. No charges were filed. [source citations]

Date of death: July 19, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Female Owner of dog: Uncle
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Johnathan Quarles, Jr.

Johnathan Quarles, Jr.

7-months old | Dayton, Ohioicon

Johnathan Quarles, Jr., 7-months old, was mauled to death by his babysitter's pit bull. Johnathan and his family were visiting from Indiana that weekend. He was under the care of his step-grandmother, Kimiko Hardy, when her pit bull attacked and killed him. Family spokesman Reverend Victor Lee said that family members told him the dog jumped over a gate and attacked the infant. A month-and-a-half earlier, Hardy's 4-year old pit bull, also described as an American Staffordshire terrier, attacked a beagle being walked in front of Hardy's home. The attack caused a criminal misdemeanor complaint against Hardy. A few months earlier, her same pit bull charged a mail carrier, who was able to avoid being bitten by placing his satchel between his leg and the dog. After initially investigating the boy's death, homicide detectives returned to Hardy's home and removed two dog cages, a large metal chain from the backyard and a bag of evidence. On July 22, 2015, a grand jury indicted Hardy on six felony charges. [source citations]

Date of death: July 20, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Step-grandmother
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Yes
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, Craig Sytsma

Craig Sytsma

46-years old | Metamora Township, Michigan

Craig Sytsma, 46-years old, was brutally attacked and killed by two loose cane corsos while jogging down a rural Metamora Township road. Sytsma suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to McLaren Lapeer Regional Medical Center where he died. The dogs had a history of aggression involving at least two other victims in 2012 and 2013. In both cases, the dogs were also loose and attacked passersby. Animal control officials returned the dogs to their owners after each attack. Sebastiano Quagliata and Valbona Lucaj owned three adult cane corsos and eight cane corso puppies at the time of fatal attack. The puppies were being advertised for sale on a website ranging from $600 to $1,100 each. Prosecutors charged the couple with second-degree murder and a felony count of possessing an animal causing death. Just prior to filing criminal charges, it was reported that Quagliata and Lucaj were in the U.S. illegally and were facing "imminent deportation" at the time of the attack. [source citations]

Date of death: July 23, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Cane corso (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Property owner
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Cindy Whisman

Cynthia "Cindy" Whisman

59-years old | Madison Township, Ohioicon

Cindy Whisman, 59-years old, was mauled to death by her daughter's pit bull while babysitting her 2-year old grandson. The vicious attack occurred right in front of the toddler. A neighbor witnessed the attack and frantically called 911. Another neighbor, Wayne Walker, 79, rushed over and beat the dog with his walking stick. "It looked like [the dog] took a chunk of her throat out around the jugular," Walker said. He knew that she was "dead right away." The child was not injured. Cindy's death marked the third fatal dog attack involving pit bull-type dogs in southwestern Ohio in a 6-month period. The victim's daughter, Julie Whisman, her grandson Marcus and her male pit bull, named Polo, moved into her mother and father's home just two months earlier. Julie had owned the dog for 5 to 6-years, since the dog had been a young puppy. Detectives found no evidence the dog had been aggressive in the past. The victim had known the dog for a number of years, according to Julie. Authorities euthanized the dog. [source citations]

Date of death: August 4, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Daughter
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Joel Chirieleison

Joel Chirieleison

6-years old | Fanning Springs, Floridaicon

Joel Chirieleison, 6-years old, was mauled to death by two pit bulls while visiting his aunt's home. The child's aunt, Heather Claar, dropped the boy's father off at work that morning then took Joel to her home. This babysitting arrangement had been in place for weeks, according to Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum. When Joel went outside to play, Claar let her two pit bulls outside. Joel was not a stranger to these dogs. When she checked on him about 10 to 15 minutes later, she found him lying in the driveway, unresponsive. First responders from multiple agencies responded to the scene, but Joel was already dead. Authorities seized the two pit bulls, along with four other dogs that were penned on the property -- a third pit bull, two catahoula leopards and a plott hound. Claar had raised the two pit bulls for that last two years around her own children without any problems. Both dogs were put down. [source citations]

Date of death: August 7, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Aunt
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Deriah Solem

Deriah Solem

22-months old | St. Charles County, Missouri

Deriah Solem, 22-months old, was killed by the family pit bull. The attack happened while the child’s grandmother, who also lives at the home, was babysitting the girl and her two brothers, ages 5 and 8. The pit bull was usually kept locked in a back room, but managed to get out. The 10-year old dog viciously attacked the toddler. The grandmother tried to pry open the dog's jaws and lost four fingertips in the process. She yelled at the two boys to get out of the house. They fled next door to Jonathan Banta's home. Banta grabbed a steak knife and stabbed the dog repeatedly until it finally released. Deriah was rushed St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles and later transferred to Cardinal Glennon, where she died of her injuries. In January 2015, the child's parents, Derek Solem and Sharon William, were charged with child endangerment and allowing their dog to fatally bite someone, both felonies. [source citations]

Date of death: August 9, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Parents
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Yes
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Javon Dade Jr.

Javon Dade Jr.

4-years old | Goulds, Floridaicon

Javon Dade Jr., 4-years old, was viciously attacked and killed by up to six family dogs -- one pit bull and five pit bull-mixes -- while visiting his father's home. His father, Javon Dade Sr., had picked his son up from his mother's home the night before the attack at about 9:30 pm and returned to his home. After putting his son to bed, Javon Sr. and his girlfriend, Alessandra Carrasco, smoked several marijuana cigarettes laced with cocaine. When the two woke up the next morning, Javon Jr. was gone. They called 911 about 9:00 am and reported him missing. He was discovered dead by police a short time later in the couple's backyard, his upper torso and head were covered with bite injuries. Three years earlier, the Department of Children and Family had been warned about the child's safety and his father's pit bulls. The dogs were not reported to Animal Services then, despite Miami-Dade County's 25-year old pit bull ban. In September, both Dade Sr. and Carrasco were charged with manslaughter. [source citations]

Date of death: August 13, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (1)
Pit bull-mix (5)
Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Father
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Yes
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, David Glass, Sr.

David Glass, Sr.

50-years old | Lamar, Mississippiicon

David Glass, Sr., 50-years old, was critically injured by up to six pit bulls and died a day-and-half later while hospitalized. Glass was attacked by the loose pit bulls at about 1:00 am at the intersection of Highway 7 and Sexton Road, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office. He was discovered four hours later lying in a ditch opposite to the pit bull owner's home with life-threatening injuries. Benton County Sheriff Arnie McMullen said, "He was chewed up pretty bad, marks all over him, left ear torn off, clothes torn off, shoes torn off." Glass was able to give an account of what happened to McMullen before he was airlifted to Regional One Medical Center in Memphis where he later died. Sheriff's officials seized three pit bulls belonging to Eric Hodges that were running loose when the attack occurred. They also seized three more pit bulls that were chained to trees at Hodges' home. The day after Glass died, authorities arrested and charged Eric Hodges with manslaughter by culpable negligence, a felony. [source citations]

Date of death: September 21, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (3-6) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Alice Payne

Alice Payne

75-years old | Cave City, Arkansasicon

Alice Payne, 75-years old, was attacked and killed by her own pit bull. Sharp County Dispatch received a 911 call around 2:15 pm from a woman saying a dog was attacking her mother. Multiple first responders were sent to the home on North Melody Lane, including: The Cave City Police Department, Cave City Fire Department, Sharp County Sheriff's Department and Spring River Ambulance Service. Cave City Police Sergeant Brian Barnett was the first to arrive and found Payne dead on her living room floor. She had bite injuries all over her face, neck and arms. The victim's daughter also lives at Payne's home. She told police that she witnessed the dog -- a pit bull that belonged to her mother -- attack her. Police officers put the attacking dog down on scene. The animal was then turned over to the Arkansas Department of Health for rabies testing. The victim's body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy. The Sharp County Sheriff's Department and Cave City Police Department continue to investigate Payne's mauling death. As of October 8, 2014, no additional information is known. [source citations]

Date of death: September 26, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Victim
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Juan Fernandez

Juan Fernandez

54-years old | Modesto, Californiaicon

Juan Fernandez, 54-years old, was savagely attacked by his neighbor's four pit bulls. Juan was in his home when he saw the dogs in his backyard -- the pit bulls had previously burrowed under the fence separating the properties. He went outside and the dogs viciously attacked him. His 77-year old mother, Maria Fernandez, grabbed a broom to help him and the dogs turned on her. Juan managed to help his mother back into the home, but the pit bulls resumed their attack on him. He was unconscious and unresponsive when deputies arrived. Deputies shot and killed all four pit bulls. Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said, "I've never seen anything like this in the history of my career -- four dogs simultaneously attacking and killing a human being." Juan succumbed to his traumatic injuries the next morning. His mother was critically injured, but survived. The owners of the pit bulls moved away immediately following the deadly attack. As of November 21, no criminal charges have been filed. [source citations]

Date of death: October 15, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (4) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, Logan Meyer

Logan Meyer

7-Years old | Dodge County, Wisconsinicon

Logan Meyer, 7-years old, was killed by a protection dog belonging to his parents. The Dodge County Sheriff's Office released very limited information initially, rousing suspicion from local media. The location of the attack, a dog boarding kennel service, was briefly listed on a news website then removed. DogsBite.org was able to match its address to a newly created business and information began to unfold. The boy's stepfather, Jessie Smith, had formerly been a trainer at a celebrity kennel for police dogs, Vohne Liche Kennels. The level 2 IPO rottweiler that killed Logan was initially obtained through Vohn Liche, according to public Facebook posts. Smith subsequently left Vohn Liche and started his new business, Platinum K9 Protection, advertising, "Social Protection Dogs with a Switch." DogsBite.org wrote extensively about this case and Dutch animal behaviorist, Alexandra Semyonova, provided an in depth response: The Tragic Fantasy That a Protection Dog Can Make a Reliable Family Pet. [source citations]

Date of death: October 24, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Rottweiler Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Dog trainer/stepfather
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Alemeaner Dial

Alemeaner Dial

83-years old | Rowland, North Carolinaicon

Alemeaner Dial, 83-years old, was brutally attacked and killed by her granddaughter's four pit bulls. Her granddaughter, 26-year old Lydia Hoyes, was not home during the attack. She and her pit bulls had moved into Dial's home in late June. Bill Smith, the Robeson County health director, said the dogs -- a 3-year-old male, 2-year-old female and two puppies -- attacked her while she was sitting on her porch. One of her grandsons arrived after the attack and shot and killed one of the dogs. The rest were captured by animal control and euthanized, Smith said. Dial's daughter-in-law, Linda Dial, said her arms and legs were mutilated in the attack. The dogs tore off both of her ears and ripped off her scalp as well. According to Linda, family members and neighbors had repeatedly called authorities about the dogs. Family members had even called Social Services trying to get someone to intervene, Linda said. Dial had dementia and used a walker. No criminal charges are expected to be filed. [source citations]

Date of death: November 2, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (4) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Granddaughter
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, Deanne Coando

Deanne Coando

40-years old | Riverton, Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyomingicon

Deanne Coando, 40-years old, was attacked and killed by two or more dogs on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Coando, of Fort Washakie, was a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. Fremont County Chief Deputy Coroner, Mark Stratmoen, said that preliminary autopsy findings showed that Coando died of hypothermia and blood loss tied to severe injuries inflicted by multiple dogs. Stratmoen said that no one witnessed the attack. The final autopsy results, released in January 2015, officially ruled the cause of death, "exsanguination due to multiple injuries from animal attack consistent with infliction by dogs." The reservation has a longstanding problem of roaming un-collared and unchecked dogs, and abandoned and feral dogs. Investigating agencies included: the Fremont County Coroner's Office, the Wind River Law Enforcement Center, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI. The attacking dogs were never identified. As of January 6, 2015, no additional information has been reported. [source citations]

Date of death: November 12, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Unknown Relationship to dog: Unknown
Sex of dog: Unknown Owner of dog: Unknown
Spay/Neuter: Unknown Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, Stella Antanaitis

Stella Antanaitis

91-years old | Stratford, Connecticut

Stella Antanaitis, 91-years old, was critically injured by her dog and died four days later. The vicious attack occurred in her kitchen at her home on Judith Terrace in Stratford. Both of her arms were mutilated in the attack, according to news reports. First responders arrived to a very violent scene. The victim had severe injuries to her upper extremities caused by her own dog. At the time of the attack, police said the woman was intervening in a fight between her dog and her cat. The victim was transported to Bridgeport Hospital with critical injuries. Stella's daughter said that she underwent skin grafts and kidney failure while hospitalized. The attacking dog -- that Stella had owned for 8-years, since it was a puppy -- was described by her daughter and authorities as a "keeshond-mix." However, a photograph taken of the dog while in quarantine showed little resemblance of a keeshond or even a spitz. This type of poor breed identification by police and animal control after a deadly attack is dangerously incompetent. [source citations]

Date of death: November 18, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Keeshond-mix Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Victim
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, Jayla Rodriguez

Jayla Rodriguez

8-years old | Pine Ridge, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakotaicon

Jayla Rodriguez, 8-years old, was mauled to death by two or more dogs on the Pine River Indian Reservation. At the time of the attack, she was sledding near her home. Police Chief Ron Duke said friends of the girl found her after the attack. No one actually witnessed the deadly mauling and authorities were unable to locate the culprit dogs. The death of Jayla caused grief and outrage in the Pine Ridge community. Roaming abandoned, stray and owned dogs, sometimes forming packs, have long been a problem on the reservation. A vicious attack on a Pine Ridge boy led to a tribal ban on pit bulls, rottweilers and doberman pinschers on the reservation in 2006. In the wake of Jayla's death, Oglala Sioux Tribal Council vowed to do everything they can to make sure a similar tragedy is not repeated. A round up of local unclaimed and unlicensed dogs began swiftly after her death. In January 2015, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI closed her death investigation; no criminal activity was found. [source citations]

Date of death: November 18, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Unknown Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unknown Owner of dog: Unknown
Spay/Neuter: Unknown Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, Jose Robles

Jose Robles

62-years old | Madison, North Carolina

Jose Robles, 62-years old, was killed by up to 15 dogs while walking down McCollum Road. He and his wife, who are from Mexico, had been visiting family when the attack occurred. After Robles did not return after a few hours, his family contacted police. The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office issued a bulletin about the missing person. As authorities searched the area the next morning, two separate detectives encountered a pack of aggressive dogs. They asked the dogs' owner to contain them. Officers then found Robles dead across the street from the dog owner's home. He was lying at the base of an embankment; his body covered in bite marks and his clothes and shoes ripped away. Authorities confiscated 15 dogs belonging to Daniel McCollum, described as blue and red heelers, Australian shepherds and hounds. On March 23, 2015, the autopsy report showed the cause of death was a heart attack and that, "Bleeding and stress from a dog attack and resultant injuries most likely contributed to death." [source citations]

Date of death: November 23, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Australian cattle dog (3)
Australian shepherd (6)
Hound (6)
Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Property owner
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, Bobbie Cheveallier

Bobbie Cheveallier

85-years old | Pollock, Louisiana

Bobbie Cheveallier, 85-years old, was viciously attacked by up to 15 dogs in her own yard. At the time of the attack, she was burning trash in her yard. She was rushed to Rapides Regional Medical and underwent numerous surgeries including the amputation of both legs above the knees. Her son, Randy Cheveallier, said the attack left most of her legs without skin, and that most of the tissues and muscles had been mutilated. Miss Bobbie died five days after the attack. A replenishment blood drive event was held after her death because she received so many blood transfusions due to her injuries. The Grant Parish Sheriff's Office confiscated 15 dogs in the area after the attack, 14 of which belonged to the same owner, Cheveallier's next-door neighbor. DNA samples were taken from each dog. An autopsy determined that she was unconscious when the dogs attacked her. The Grant Parish Sheriff's Office failed to report any specific dog breeds in the deadly attack. All 15 dogs were euthanized. [source citations]

Date of death: December 1, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Unreleased Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No
2014 dog bite fatality, Christopher Camejo Jr

Christopher Camejo Jr.

2-years old | Crystal River, Floridaicon

Christopher Camejo Jr., 2-years old, was mauled to death by his grandfather's rottweilers. The boy was dead in the backyard when emergency responders arrived. Four rottweilers and a smaller dog were also loose in the backyard. Authorities confiscated all five dogs, but left several rottweiler puppies in the home. The toddler was alone when the deadly attack occurred. Both of his parents and the grandfather's girlfriend were inside the home allegedly watching over the boy and his two siblings, ages 1 and 5. Department of Children and Family removed the two remaining children. The grandfather, Joaquin Camejo, was away during the attack. Joaquin believes the toddler somehow gained access to a "special pen" where he kept two of his dogs that appeared more aggressive. The boy's family had been living temporarily or visiting the grandfather's home when the attack occurred. Citrus County authorities later arrested the boy's parents and charged them both with manslaughter and child neglect. [source citations]

Date of death: December 6, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Rottweiler (4) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Grandfather
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Yes
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Rita Ross-Woodard

Rita Ross-Woodard

64-years old | Corpus Christi, Texasicon

Rita Ross-Woodard, 64-years old, was found dead in her backyard by her neighbor after being attacked by at least four dogs she was fostering. "There was blood everywhere and the (back) door was wide open," said neighbor Danny DeRamus. The Nueces County Medical Examiner's office said multiple dog bites contributed to her death. Her death was ruled, "critical coronary artery atherosclerosis following multiple dog bites." Woodard fostered many dogs, primarily pit bulls, according to her Facebook photo album. At the time of the attack, she had at least 17 dogs in her home. Authorities euthanized four suspected dogs that were loose when police arrived; police officials verified these dogs were pit bull-mixes. The attackers also gravely injured another loose dog in Woodard's home, which had to be put down. Since 2010, Woodard had fostered at least 50 animals for a local rescue, For the Love of Strays, who began pleading for donations from the public to help their rescue immediately after Woodard's death. [source citations]

Date of death: December 15, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix (4) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Victim
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs
2014 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Edward Cahill

Edward Cahill

40-years old | Portage, Indiana

Edward Cahill, 40-years old, was killed by his pet pit bull on Christmas Day. His wife, Blanca Rodriguez, came home and found him on the floor unresponsive, covered in bite wounds. Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said Cahill suffered multiple severe bite injuries to his arms and face that resulted in massive blood loss. The dog attack was "so obvious," Harris said, that an autopsy was not required. Cahill had owned the male intact pit bull, FatBoi (Fat Boy), for 8-years and another pit bull that was uninvolved in the attack. According to police reports, Rodriguez told officers that she and Cahill gave their two pit bulls bones on Christmas Eve and that FatBoi was extremely aggressive and protective of his bone. Rodriguez had warned Cahill to euthanize FatBoi in the past because he was "extremely aggressive and unpredictable," according to police. Rodriguez later recanted her statements to police, saying the dog had never caused problems in the past. "It was a freak accident," she said. [source citations]

Date of death: December 25, 2014 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Victim
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
Breed ID image: 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs

Excluded victims

Deaths involving minor dog bite injury, dog-related caused injury (killed by a car while fleeing a dog) and cases that lacked a "reasonably clear" determination of death after dog bite injury are not included in our fatality statistical data. Deaths involving fatal non-bite injury (struck by dog death) or deaths due to untreated severe dog bites (sepsis) may be added to our data at a future time.

  • 04/12/14: Davon Jiggetts, 17-years old (Fulton County, GA)
  • 04/10/14: Demonta Collins, 13-years old (Augusta, GA)
  • 01/08/14: Carlos Eligio Trevino Sr., 54-years old (Idaho Falls, ID)

Post-mortem animal predation

  • 02/14/14: Pedro Tepale, 51-years old (Mendocino County, CA)
  • 03/2014: Cheryl Logan, 55-years old (Bellefontaine, OH)
  • 06/2014: Sylvia Monhollen, 68-years old (Whitley County, KY)
  • 10/14/14: Robert Frantsi, 40-years old (Greenwood, IN)
Citations
  1. DogsBite.org contains verifiable information about U.S. citizens killed by dogs including the name and age of each victim, location of attack, dog breed and up to 25 other factors. Our Fatality Citations section documents sources used in our dog bite fatality research. Learn more about our data collection method, which includes collecting breed identification photographs, police and coroner reports in certain cases, legal filings, court filings, legislative materials and more.
  2. Change Log: In April 2018, the 2014 Dog Bite Fatality Statistics were reissued with the following significant changes: The death of Derrick Sanders. In February 2018, it was announced during the criminal proceedings of Eric Hodges that his pit bulls killed two men in two separate attacks several months apart. Less significant changes include the 10-year combined total deaths of pit bull and rottweilers (from 2005 to 2014) increasing for the pit bull breed (203 to 205) due to reclassifications and additions in earlier years. In February 2017, the 2014 Dog Bite Fatality Statistics were adjusted to show that two additional attacks resulted in criminal charges after the publication of these statistics on February 11, 2015. The cases involved the deaths of Johnathan Quarles, Jr. and Jose Robles.
  3. Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to December 31, 2014, by Merritt Clifton, Animals 24-7, December 31, 2014 (animals24-7.org).
  4. These breeds include: mastiff-mix (1 death), bullmastiff (2 deaths) and cane corso (1 death).
  5. News articles stated that he died on June 8; his obituary stated that he died on June 9.