In the 15-year period of 2005 through 2019, canines killed 523 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (346) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »
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 fatal dog attacks by breed |
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In 2014, 1 dog bite fatality involved canines from 3 different breeds, thus producing a death count total of 45 rather than 43. Seven dog breeds each contributed to 1 death, including: Australian cattle dog, Australian shepherd, cane corso, catahoula leopard dog, hound, keeshond-mix and shepherd-mix. The combined breed group, mastiff/bullmastiff, includes: 2 bullmastiffs and 1 mastiff-mix.
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.
Christina Bell, 43-years old, was killed by multiple pit bulls. Houston police were called to the 7600 block of Glen Prairie Street around 2:00 am for a report of a vicious dog attack. The dogs killed Bell and attacked two other people, seriously injuring one. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined Bell died of "blunt and sharp force injuries of the neck and upper extremities." Authorities captured a 30-pound female pit bull soon after the attack. The dog was "covered in blood" that was determined to match Bell, Christopher Newport said, a city spokesman for the BARC animal shelter. A second dog, belonging to the same owner, Tiara Thomas, was also impounded. "The apartment was kept in an awful condition," Newport said. Thomas was cited for a litany of misdemeanor violations at that time. in July, Harris County prosecutors charged Thomas and Timothy Coleman, who live together, under the Texas felony dog attack statute. Prosecutors had evidence that one of the dogs had killed another dog and attacked two people previously. [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 | ||
Betty Clark, 75-years old, was killed by two vicious pit bulls. The attack occurred on the evening of December 21, 2013 in the 400 block of Deer Valley Street while Clark was delivering Christmas presents in her neighborhood. She was found unresponsive with bite injuries covering her body. "She was covered in blood and had a gouge in her head,” neighbor Mary Anne Ybarra said. Clark never regained consciousness. She died on January 6, 2014 at University Hospital. The attack was not reported by 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 fatal pit bull attack, the death of 83-year old Petra Aguirre on April 11. Aguirre also died at University Hospital about two weeks after being attacked by her neighbor's pit bull. In June, a Comal County grand jury indicted Rachelle Lucas, 47, and Peter Lucas, 49, for allowing their two pit bulls to roam free and cause the death of 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: | Both | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Kara Hartrich, 4-years old, was killed by multiple family pit bulls on her 4th birthday. Bloomington police and fire were dispatched to the 2000 block of Parker Avenue around 5:10 pm for a report of a dog attack. Upon arrival, officers found a 4-year old girl unresponsive with multiple dog bites inside her home. She was transported by ambulance to Advocate BroMenn Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 5:50 pm by emergency department staff. McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling conducted the autopsy and 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 on the main floor of her home with her 2-year old sister being babysat by her grandmother. Mclean County Animal Control took the family's three adult pit bulls -- two unneutered males, the primary attackers, and a spayed female -- into custody. The owners released their ownership rights. All three pit bulls were destroyed. The child's mother, Roxanne Hartrich, later shared her story with Daxton's Friends. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 17, 2014 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | 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 | ||
Annabell Martin, 89-years old, was discovered dead in her garage after being attacked by her grandson's three rottweilers. On January 26, Corona police were dispatched to a residence in the 1500 block of Pera Street at approximately 4:40 pm, according to Corona police Captain Tom Weeks. When police arrived, the dogs lunged at them, causing an officer to shoot and kill one of the dogs. Officers found Martin deceased in her garage with signs of her being attacked by her grandson's three rottweilers. No one witnessed the deadly canine mauling. The victim's daughter discovered her body on the ground with numerous dog bite wounds. Martin died at some unknown time earlier that day, Sergeant Kurt James, of the Riverside County Coroner’s Office said. The other two rottweilers at the scene were confiscated by Riverside Animal Control officers 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 Pera Street 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 |
Klonda Richey, 57-years old, was killed by her neighbor's two dogs. Dayton police responded to 31 East Bruce Avenue at about 8:15 am after her body was found naked and torn in blood-soaked snow. Her death was "very traumatic, and very painful," the Montgomery County Coroner's Office said. Police shot and killed both dogs instantly. Prior to the attack, Klonda lodged 13 complaints about the dogs to Montgomery County Animal Resource Center (ARC). But no one at ARC had even seen the dogs prior to police killing them. Klonda also called the 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. She sought a civil stalking protection order against her neighbor, which was denied. A grand jury failed to indict the dogs' owners, Andrew Nason and Julie Custer, on felony charges. In 2015, Klonda's estate sued Mark Kumpf, Director of ARC, and Montgomery County for "reckless and/or willful conduct." In 2020, her estate received a $3.5 million settlement. [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 | ||
Je'vaeh Mayes, 2-years old, was killed by a chained pit bull her family was dog sitting. Temple police were dispatched to the 800 block of East Avenue M at about 11:30 am after receiving a report of a dog bite. While en route they learned the victim had been admitted at Scott & White Hospital. She died two hours later. Her family was watching the female pit bull and her two puppies for a friend. The dogs were secured in the backyard of her family's home. Je'vaeh entered into the backyard without her family's knowledge, police said. At some point, the dog attacked her. The child's mother, Cherella Lyles, said she left Je'vaeh in the bedroom watching cartoons before the attack. "She snuck out the back door to play with the puppies," Lyles said. "The mother of the puppies attacked my baby." According to neighbors, Je'vaeh's family also owned a pit bull. The owner of the perpetrator pit bull told police the dog had never shown aggression before. Police had no reports on file of previous attacks by the culprit pit bull. Authorities confiscated the pit bull and her 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 |
Braelynn Coulter, 3-years old, was killed by one of her family's two pit bulls. High Point police were called to a residence in the 900 block of Big Creek Court at approximately 5:00 pm in connection to a dog bite. When they arrived, a family member had already driven 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 that 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, Katherine Dixon said, who has three young children. Dixon 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 transported the male culprit pit bull to the Guilford County Animal Shelter, where it was later euthanized. The other pit bull remained in the family's home. [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 | ||
Summer Sears, 4-years old, was killed by one or more roaming dogs. Tallassee police received a call around 4:30 pm about dogs attacking a child in the 1000 block of Lower Tuskegee Road. When they arrived, they found the girl inside the home covered in bite marks. "The four-year-old child was pronounced deceased on the scene," Tallassee Chief of Police Jimmy Rodgers said. Summer had been playing in the front yard of her grandfather's home. 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 apprehended the suspect dog, a white German shepherd-mix, and a black Labrador-mix that might have been involved. Both dogs belonged to a neighbor. Police described the scene as horrific. "It's what you'd envision when somebody gets attacked by a wild bear," Chief Rodgers said. Summer's body was sent to forensic sciences to determine if one or both dogs inflicted the attack. After her death, Elmore County adopted a leash law. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 26, 2014 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | German 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 |
Kenneth Santillan, 13-years old, was killed, his friend injured, by a bullmastiff. Kenneth was walking home from school at about 4:00 pm with his best friend, also 13-years old, along a narrow stretch of grass that ran behind the dog owner's home in the 100 block of Sherwood Avenue when confronted by the 115-pound dog. The 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 found seven hours later, at 11:20 pm, along an embankment of Molly Ann Brook, half-submerged in the water. The brook is located behind the dog owner's home. Simultaneous to the search being carried out by the Paterson Police Department to find Kenneth, Paterson Animal Control was notified at about 10:00 pm that "at some point" the same dog attacked its owner, Paul Clarke, and that Clarke stabbed his dog multiple times. The male bullmastiff, "Trigger," was "humanely euthanized" at the scene, chief animal control officer, John DeCando, said. The dog had bitten a person a year earlier. [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 | ||
Raymane Robinson, Jr., 2-years old, was killed, and his friend badly injured, by a bullmastiff. Just before 5:00 pm, Killeen police responded to a shots fired call in the 4100 block of Pennington Drive. While en route, they were told a dog had attacked two children. Both were transported to Darnall Army Medical Center; Raymane did not survive. Witnesses said an 18-year old man was walking with the toddler and an 8-year old girl near Iduma Elementary School when the bullmastiff charged out of its owner's garage and attacked the girl. Witnesses were able to pry the animal off the girl. 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. The medical examiner said the boy died of penetrating and blunt force injuries. Neighbors said the dog's owner was away at the time, and the dog was being "watched by his mother." [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 | ||
Nancy Newberry, 77-years old, bled to death after being attacked by her daughter's pit bull. The attack occurred at the victim's home in the 16000 block of north 47th Drive, 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 8:00 pm when it attacked her. She was transported to John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital with life-threatening injuries, where she later 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 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, "Titan," which was neutered and current on its vaccinations, was euthanized at the request of the owner. [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 |
Mia DeRouen, 4-years old, was killed by her family's XL pit bull. Houma police were called to 461 South Hollywood Road around 7:00 pm after neighbors reported hearing screams. Mia and her mother were watching TV when the 130-pound pit bull, "Niko," suddenly attacked the child. The mother was able to free Mia from the dog then barricaded herself and her daughter inside a bedroom and called 911, Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis said. The dog was still running wild in the apartment "acting in a very vicious manner" when 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 down the dog by firing 10 more shots into it. Police categorized the dog as a "monster." Mia was transported to Terrebonne General Medical Center, where she died. Her mother, Megan Touchet, sustained multiple bite injuries and was hospitalized. [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 | ||
Christopher Malone, 3-years old, was mauled to death by two family pit bulls. The attack occurred on Tolarsville Road in the unincorporated community of Thornton around 4:00 pm, the Holmes County Sheriff's Department said. The dogs had been secured in a chain-linked pen behind a mobile home, but escaped and attacked the child who was playing nearby, family members said. "The dogs just jumped him and took him down and dragged him in the back and killed him, ate him up," said Lucy Mayze, the victim's aunt. The boy's mother found his body behind the family's home. "When the deputies made it there, they found a young kid that'd been deceased from two pit bulls," Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said. The boy's mother sustained injuries while trying to pull the dogs off her son. She was treated at a hospital in Lexington. Mayze said the dogs had never been aggressive before. Animal control officers seized both pit bulls, each about a year old. The dogs were euthanized. Sheriff March voiced his support for a countywide pit bull ban after the boy's death. [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 | ||
Dorothy Hamilton, 85-years old, was killed by her son's two pit bulls. Kaufman police responded to the 1400 block of East First North around 4:45 pm after a 911 call about a deceased woman. Michael Hamilton, who lives at the home, was away at the time of the attack. When he arrived home, he found his mother dead and called 911. Officers arrived at the scene minutes later and discovered the victim deceased in the living room. There were two large, "very aggressive pit bulls" inside the home, police said, and it appeared the dogs had attacked her. Hamilton 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 eight pit bulls from the home. The other six were being housed outside in substandard pens. All eight pit bulls were euthanized. Neighbors had complained about the dogs running loose and acting aggressive in the past. The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of death, "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 | ||
John Harvard, 5-years old, was killed by his neighbor's pit bull. On April 6, 2014, St. Clair County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Honeysuckle Way around 3:30 pm for a dog attack. Upon arrival, deputies learned the boy had been taken to the hospital. Just before the attack, John was playing in his yard when the 80 pound pit bull 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 9 millimeter pistol and shot at the dog, causing it to flee. The father then rushed his injured son to St. Vincent's St. Clair Hospital in Pell City, where he was pronounced dead. The father 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. In June, a grand jury indicted Johnny Ray Kay Sr., 57, on a misdemeanor count of criminally negligent homicide. [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) |
Petra Aguirre, 83-years old, died after being attacked by her neighbor's pit bulls. The attack occurred on March 31 while she was feeding her cats in the backyard of her San Antonino home in the 900 block of Southwest 38th Street. Petra died while hospitalized at University Hospital just under two weeks later. 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, "Bebe and Skirtgles," both female pit bull-mixes, belonged to Perla Rojas. In May 2013, the same pit bulls, along with another dog owned by Rojas, attacked a 13-year old boy. Aguirre was living with her two brothers and nephew when she was attacked. Her nephew was at work and her brothers could not hear the attack, family members said. On November 24, 2014 Perla Rojas was charged under the Texas felony dog attack statute. She later pleaded guilty 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 |
Jessica Norman, 33-years old, was discovered naked and dead in a ditch with numerous "stab-like" wounds. On April 30, at 7:50 pm, Highlands County sheriff's deputies were called to 1226 Farm Road for a report of a deceased woman found in a pasture behind her home. Family members last saw her alive on April 28. Police and autopsy reports released to the media in October stated that Norman had alcohol and methamphetamine in her system and puncture wounds on her body consistent with dogs bites, which were listed as a contributing cause of death. Investigators believe three aggressive pit bulls owned by Lisa Hodge on Plantation Road inflicted the bites. Officials euthanized three pit bulls owned by 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 his 11 year career. DNA evidence was unable to produce a profile in order to match Hodge's dogs to the attack, but investigators concluded that Hodge's pit bulls inflicted the bite injuries. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 28, 2014 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | 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 | ||
Katie Morrison, 20-years old, was killed by three pit bull-mix dogs. The attack occurred on April 28 while Katie was visiting the dog owner's home in the 300 block of Lee Road 504. She 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 other two pit bulls quickly joined in. The dogs ripped off her whole scalp in the attack. Neighbor Gabby Witt witnessed the aftermath. "I looked over the fence and I saw that lady laying there. What I remember was her head -- there was almost no hair left." Katie was transported to a hospital in Columbus then transferred to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, where she died on May 3. Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said Katie died of complications from the dog attack injuries. "She suffered a severe head injury and multiple puncture and laceration wounds over her body," Harris said. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said a future grand jury will review the case. [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: | Both | 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 | ||
Nyhiem Wilfong, 1-year old, was mauled to death by a chained rottweiler. The attack occurred around 7:30 pm while the child was visiting his grandfather's home in Kings Creek, the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office said. Nyhiem and his 5-year old brother were playing in the yard at the time. 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 rottweiler laying on top of him. He tried to administer CPR, but it was too late. Shirley Patterson, the boy's great-grandmother, said the boys went out to the swing set, so she assumed that is where they were playing. The two boys, however, had wandered into the radius of a long chain his grandfather's rottweiler, "Kobe," was attached to. Patterson told authorities 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. Animal control officers took the dog into custody. [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 | ||
Kasii Haith, 4-years old, was killed by three pit bulls. The attack occurred around 4:00 pm while the boy and his mother were visiting a female friend in the 900 block of Edwardsville Road, Delaware State Police said. The females were in the house and the boy was alone with the dogs in the unfenced yard. The boy had been around the dogs "numerous times in the past" without incident, said Master Corporal Gary Fournier, a state police spokesman. At one point, the mother "looked out the window and observed her son being attacked by the dogs," he said. She ran outside to save her son and received multiple bite injuries to her arms. Two repairmen working at the home rushed to her aid and beat the dogs with PVC piping. But Kasii could not be saved. His mother, who was pregnant, was taken to Kent General Hospital, where she received 20 stitches. The three pit bulls -- a mother and her two offspring, a male and female about a year old -- were reported running loose in the area the previous day. The three unvaccinated, unsterilized dogs were euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 7, 2014 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | 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 | ||
Rita Pepe, 93-years old, died 6-weeks after being attacked by a dog. On April 13, just before 2:00 pm, a pit bull-mix broke out of its home and attacked Pepe at the intersection of Harbor Street and McKinnel Court, police said. She sustained a massive amount of trauma to her lower left leg, Branford police Sergeant Richard Dahlin said. The dog raced across the street, threw her over and began mauling her leg. Several neighbors ran to her aid and fought off the dog 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, "Booker," in October from the Branford Animal Shelter. Director Laura Burban said the dog "underwent extensive evaluations by staff, volunteers and trainers" beforehand. The shelter adoption listing identified the dog as a "terrier-mix" who "loves to play." Pepe died on May 25. Doctors said the trauma and extended inactivity as a result of the dog bites worsened her condition. [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 | ||
Holden Garrison, 10-weeks old, was killed by a family dog in front of adults. The attack occurred around 11:40 am at a home in the 8000 block of Tindall Road. The boy's uncle was on the couch holding the baby. The dog, described as a female "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 dog 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 child's father was placing him in the front seat of a truck to take him to the hospital when an Oakland County sheriff’s deputy arrived. 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 of death as accidental. The family had owned the dog for over two 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 |
Derrick Sanders, 45-years old, was found mutilated and dead in a ditch. A passing motorist reported his body to the Benton County Sheriff's Office around 5:00 am. "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 front yard. Sanders was last seen alive by family members about two hours earlier. The Benton County Sheriff's Office believed it was a homicide until September 20, 2014, when David Glass, 50, was found in almost the same location with similar injuries as Sanders. "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 told police he was attacked by a pack of pit bulls belonging to "Pinky," the nickname of Eric Hodges. Detectives determined that three or more pit bulls belonging to Hodges, living on Sexton Road, killed both men. [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: | Both | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Logan Sheppard, 4-years old, was killed by his uncle's two pit bulls. The attack happened around 10:35 pm after Logan and his mother walked to the home of his mother's sister, Delores Fredericks, at 12509 Rhodine Road. 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 Hillsborough County sheriff's 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 |
Johnathan Quarles, Jr., 7-months old, was killed by his babysitter's pit bull. At about 12:24 pm, Dayton police were called to the 2200 block of Riverside Drive for a dog attack. The baby's family was visiting from Indiana. The infant was under the care of his step-grandmother, Kimiko Hardy, when her pit bull attacked him. Family spokesman Reverend Victor Lee said family members told him the dog jumped over a gate and attacked the infant. Six weeks earlier, Hardy's 4-year old pit bull, "Busa," also described as an American Staffordshire terrier, attacked a beagle named "Riba," causing the dog to get staples for his injuries. The attack caused a criminal misdemeanor complaint against Hardy. Several months earlier, Busa charged a mail carrier, who was able to avoid being bitten by placing his satchel between his leg and the dog. A grand jury indicted Hardy on six felony charges. Prosecutors stated during the trial the dog crushed the baby's skull and removed part of his scalp. Hardy was convicted on all six charges and sentenced to three years in prison. [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 | ||
Craig Sytsma, 46-years old, was killed by two loose cane corsos while jogging. The attack occurred at about 5:30 pm in the 5500 block of Thomas Road, Metamora Township Police said. 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 both cases, the dogs were also loose and attacked a passerby. Lapeer County Animal Control returned the dogs to their owners after each attack. Sebastiano Quagliata and Valbona Lucaj owned three adult cane corsos and eight puppies at the time of attack. The puppies were being advertised for sale on a website ranging from $600 to $1,100 each. Quagliata and Lucaj were also in the U.S. illegally and were facing "imminent deportation" at the time of the attack. Prosecutors charged the couple with second-degree murder and a felony count of possessing an animal causing death. Both pleaded guilty to the lower charge. Each were sentenced to a minimum of nearly 5 years in jail. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 23, 2014 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Cane corso (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | 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 | ||
Cindy Whisman, 59-years old, was killed by her daughter's pit bull. The attack occurred just after 1:00 pm in the 4700 block of Eck Road, Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones said. At the time of the attack, Whisman was babysitting her 2-year old grandson, Marcus. 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. The victim's daughter, Julie Whisman, along with her son Marcus and her male pit bull, "Polo," moved into her mother and father's home on Eck Road just two months earlier. Julie had owned the pit bull for 5 or 6 years, since the dog had been a young puppy. Detectives found no evidence the dog had been aggressive in the past. Whisman 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 | ||
Joel Chirieleison, 6-years old, was killed by two pit bulls while visiting his aunt's home. At about 8:25 am, Levy County sheriff’s deputies responded to the 7200 block of Northwest 162nd Street for a child being injured by multiple dogs. Upon arrival, they found the boy deceased. Earlier that day, the child's paternal aunt, Heather Claar, dropped the boy's father off at work then took Joel to her home. This babysitting arrangement had been in place for weeks, Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum said. 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. She called 911 and an ambulance arrived. Levy County Animal Services seized both pit bulls, along with four other dogs that were penned on the property -- a third pit bull, two catahoula leopard dogs and a plott hound. Claar had owned the pair of culprit pit bulls for two years; Claar and her family had raised the two dogs. Both pit bulls 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: | Male/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 | ||
Deriah Solem, 22-months old, was killed by a family pit bull. The attack occurred on August 7, around 6:45 pm in the 2800 block of Essex Street. St. Charles County Sheriff's Office investigators said the child’s grandmother, who also lives at the home, was babysitting the girl and her two brothers, ages 5 and 8. The family dog, "Martel," a 10-year old male pit bull weighing 80-pounds, was usually kept locked in a back room, but managed to get out and attack the baby. 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, stopping the attack. "There was a lot of blood, and stabbing a dog is not fun," he said. Deriah was rushed to St. Joseph Health Center then transferred to Cardinal Glennon, where she died. In January 2015, the child's parents, Derek Solem and Sharon William, were charged with child endangerment and allowing their dog to fatally bite a person, 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 |
| Breed ID image: | 2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Javon Dade Jr., 4-years old, was killed by a pack of family pit bulls. His father, Javon Dade Sr., had picked his son up from his mother's home the night before and returned to his home in the 12300 block of Southwest 230th Street. 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 around 9:20 am, Javon Jr. was gone. The father last saw him alive at 5:00 am. Carrasco called 911 and reported him missing. Miami-Dade police officers found him dead in the couple's backyard at about 10:10 am. His upper torso and head were covered with bite injuries. Investigators were told that a rear sliding glass door in the home was closed but unlocked. 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 pit bull ban. Prosecutors charged both Dade Sr. and Carrasco 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: | Both | 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 | ||
David Glass, Sr., 50-years old, died after sustaining critical injuries from multiple pit bulls. Glass was attacked around 1:00 am at the intersection of Highway 7 and Sexton Road, the Benton County Sheriff's Office said. He was found four hours later lying in a ditch opposite to the pit bull owner's home with life-threatening injuries. "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. Glass was able to tell McMullen what happened before he was airlifted to a hospital, where he died the next day. Glass told police he believed the pit bulls belonged to "Pinky," the nickname of Eric Hodges. Six weeks earlier, Derrick Sanders was found in the same location with similar injuries. Sanders' death was being investigated as a homicide. Law enforcement quicky drew a connection between the two deaths. Police seized three six pit bulls belonging to Hodges. Authorities later charged Eric Hodges with two counts of felony manslaughter by culpable negligence. He was found guilty by a jury. [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: | Both | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Alice Payne, 75-years old, was 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. Cave City Police Department, Cave City Fire Department, Sharp County Sheriff's Department and Spring River Ambulance Service responded to the 700 block of North Melody Lane. 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, Sheree Huckabee, said she was in the backyard when she heard her mother calling out, saying she had fallen. After going inside the home, she witnessed the pit bull attacking her mother in the face and neck. Huckabee tried to get the dog off her mother. She called her son and 911. The dog bit Huckabee and her son before they were able to contain the dog in the backyard. Deputy John Marlow dispatched the canine at the scene. Payne operated an antique store, Hometown Antiques in Cave City, for many years and was widely 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 |
Juan Fernandez, 54-years old, was killed by his neighbor's pit bulls. At 5:46 pm, Stanislaus County sheriff's deputies responded to 911 calls reporting four pit bulls attacking a man in the 800 block of Glenn Avenue. Juan was in his home when he saw the dogs in his backyard. The pit bulls had dug under the fence between the properties before and had once killed a small dog. When Juan went outside, the canines attacked him. His 77-year old mother, Maria Fernandez, grabbed a broom to help him and the dogs attacked her, knocking her down. Juan managed to help his mother back into the home, but the pit bulls resumed their attack on him. He was unresponsive when deputies arrived. Deputies shot and killed all four pit bulls. "I've never seen anything like this in the history of my career -- four dogs simultaneously attacking and killing a human being," Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said. Juan died of his injuries the next morning. His mother was critically injured, but survived. The owners of the pit bulls moved away immediately following the attack. [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 |
Logan Meyer, 7-years old, was killed by a protection dog belonging to his parents. The Dodge County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call at about 5:20 pm "involving a dog that had severely bitten a 7-year old child." But otherwise, the agency released little information, rousing suspicion from local media. The location of the attack -- a dog boarding kennel service on W2853 State Road 67 -- was briefly listed on a news website then removed. DogsBite.org was able to match its address to a newly created business. 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, "Ozzy," was initially obtained through Vohn Liche, according to public Facebook posts. Smith subsequently left Vohn Liche and started his new business in Iron Ridge, "Platinum K9 Protection," advertising, "Social Protection Dogs with a Switch." DogsBite.org wrote extensively about this case and Dutch animal behaviorist, Alexandra Semyonova, wrote an in depth response. [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 | ||
Alemeaner Dial, 83-years old, was killed by her granddaughter's four pit bulls. The attack occurred on October 25 around 5:44 pm outside her home in the 1900 block of Gaddys Mill Road, said Bill Smith, the Robeson County health director. Her granddaughter, Lydia Hoyes, 26, was not home during the attack. Hoyes and her pit bulls moved into Dial's home in late June. The dogs -- a 3-year old male, 2-year old female and two puppies -- attacked her while she was sitting on her porch, Smith said. One of her grandsons arrived after the attack and shot and killed one of the dogs. The other dogs were captured by Robeson County animal control and euthanized. Dial's daughter-in-law, Linda Dial, said the dogs mutilated her arms and legs after dragging her off the porch. The dogs tore off both of her ears and ripped off her scalp as well. Family members and neighbors had repeatedly called authorities about the dogs. Family members had even called Social Services, trying to get someone to intervene. Dial had dementia and used a walker. She died on November 2. [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 2, 2014 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (4) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | 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 | ||
Deanne Coando, 40-years old, was killed by dogs on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Coando, of Fort Washakie, was a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. Her body was found at about 3:30 pm in the 800 block of Rendezvous Road, Fremont County Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Stratmoen said. The temperature at that time was near zero. Police were unsure if she had been outside overnight. No one witnessed the attack. Preliminary autopsy findings showed that Coando died of hypothermia and blood loss tied to severe injuries inflicted by multiple dogs, Stratmoen said. The final autopsy results, released in January 2015, ruled the cause of death, "exsanguination due to multiple injuries from animal attack consistent with infliction by dogs." The reservation has a long history 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. [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 |
Stella Antanaitis, 91-years old, died after being critically injured by her dog. The attack occurred on November 14 at approximately 4:00 pm inside her home on Judith Terrace, Stratford police said. The dog mauled her in the kitchen. First responders arrived to a violent, bloody scene. Both of her arms were "badly mutilated," a neighbor said. She was still able to dial 911 for help. At the time of the attack, the victim was intervening in a fight between her dog and her Himalayan cat, according to Stratford police Captain Paul DosSantos Antanaitis. She was transported to Bridgeport Hospital, where she died four days later. Her daughter said she underwent skin grafts and kidney failure while hospitalized. Stella had owned the dog for 8-years, since it was a puppy. Her daughter and authorities described the dog as a "keeshond-mix" with no history of aggression. A photograph taken of the dog while in quarantine showed little resemblance of a keeshond or even a spitz. The dog was humanely euthanized and the cat was adopted, police said. [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 | ||
Jayla Rodriguez, 8-years old, was killed by multiple dogs on the Pine River Indian Reservation. She was attacked around 5:00 pm while sledding near her home just off Highway 407, Deputy Police Chief John Mousseau said. Authorities were unable to find any roaming dogs in the Crazy Horse housing area responsible for the attack. The death of Jayla, who had attended Red Cloud Indian School, 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. In 2006, after a Pine Ridge boy was attacked by pit bulls, a new law was enacted, Braedon's Law, that banned pit bulls, rottweilers, doberman pinschers and mixes of those breeds from the reservation. After Jayla's death, tribal authorities hired a contractor to carry out a two-day roundup of stray unlicensed dogs and destroy them. According to her death certificate, Jayla died of "multiple laceration(s), abrasions, contusions, partial transection right jugular vein, cerebral edema, mauled by dog." [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 |
Jose Robles, 62-years old, was killed by up to 15 dogs. His body was found in the 1100 block of McCollum Road. Around 1:00 pm, Robles left a home he was visiting to take a walk. Robles and his wife were visiting from Mexico. After not returning in a few hours, his family contacted law enforcement. When Rockingham County sheriff’s deputies 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 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. Deputies confiscated 15 dogs belonging to Daniel McCollum, described as blue and red heelers, hounds and Australian shepherds. The autopsy report stated he died of a heart attack and, "bleeding and stress from a dog attack and resultant injuries most likely contributed to death." A grand jury indicted McCollum on one count of involuntary manslaughter. He pleaded no contest. [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: | Both | 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 | ||
Bobbie Cheveallier, 85-years old, was mutilated and killed by up to 15 dogs. The dogs attacked her on the evening of November 26, as she was burning trash in the yard of her home on LA Highway 8. She was transported to Rapides Regional Medical, where she 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 and sent to an out-of-state lab. An autopsy determined that she was unconscious before the dogs attacked her. All 15 dogs were euthanized. The sheriff's office did not identify any dog breeds involved. [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 |
Christopher Camejo Jr., 2-years old, was killed by his grandfather's breeding rottweilers. Citrus County sheriff's deputies were called to the 8300 block of West Oak Street around 4:20 pm for a dog attacking a child. The boy was dead in the backyard when deputies arrived. Four rottweilers and a smaller dog were loose in the yard. Authorities confiscated all five dogs, but left several rottweiler puppies. The toddler was alone when the attack occurred. The boy's parents and the grandfather's girlfriend were inside the home watching his two siblings, ages 1 and 5, but no one was outside with the victim. The Department of Children and Family removed both siblings. The boy's grandfather, Joaquin Camejo, who was away during the attack, believes the boy somehow gained access to a "special pen" where he kept two of his dogs that appeared more aggressive. Prosecutors charged the parents, Christopher Camejo, 29, and Claudia Scarbrough, 31, with third-degree murder and child neglect. Scarbrough pleaded guilty to a lower charge. Camejo was acquitted. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 6, 2014 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler (4) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | 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 | ||
Rita Ross-Woodard, 64-years old, was killed by four dogs she was fostering. Corpus Christie police officers found her dead in the backyard of her home in the 1200 block of Preston at about 5:30 pm. "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. There were 17 dogs in her home at that time, some of which had been feeding on her remains. Police believe four of the dogs were responsible for the attack. Those dogs were euthanized. Police verified the four dogs were pit bull-mixes. The dogs also critically injured another dog inside Woodard's home, which had to be put down due to its injuries. Since 2010, Woodard had fostered at least 50 animals for a local rescue, For the Love of Strays, who seized upon the tragedy of her death by calling for donations for their rescue. [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 | ||
Edward Cahill, 40-years old, was killed by his own pit bull on Christmas Day. He was pronounced dead at his home in the 5500 block of Tulip Avenue, Portage police said. His wife, Blanca Rodriguez, came home around 8:00 pm and found him unresponsive. Cahill suffered multiple severe bite injuries to his arms and face that resulted in massive blood loss, Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said. The dog attack was "so obvious," Harris said, that an autopsy was not required. Two pit bulls were in the home when police arrived. Only one dog was involved, a male intact pit bull named "FatBoi" (Fat Boy) that Cahill had owned for 8-years. The other dog was secured in a bedroom. Rodriguez told officers that she and Cahill gave their 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," police said. Rodriguez later recanted her statements to police, saying his death was a "freak accident." [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 | ||
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 statistical data at a future time.
Fatal Pit Bull Attacks: An archive of U.S. fatal pit bull maulings from 1833 to December 2024, maintained by DogsBite.org.
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