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.
| 2015 fatal dog attacks by breed |
|---|
 |
In 2015, 5 dog bite fatalities involved canines from 2 or more different breeds, thus producing a death count total of 43 rather than 36. Seven dog breeds each contributed to 1 death, including: boxer, German shepherd-mix, golden retriever-mix, husky, Labrador retriever-mix, mixed-breed and Rhodesian ridgeback-mix.
The below items were issued when annual statistics were originally published on February 19, 2016. New fatalities and updates to our 2015 Fatality Statistics may have been added since.
Eugene Smith, 87-years old, was killed by his family pit bull. The attack occurred at a home in the 8400 block of Stonehouse Road around 2:24 pm. Smith was on the floor taking down his Christmas tree when the dog attacked. The dog was still mauling him when Frederick County sheriff's deputies and animal control arrived. Officers were able to quickly contain the dog. Smith was transported to Frederick Memorial Hospital with severe injuries, where was pronounced dead. Smith lived at the home with his son and his son's fiancée. The family adopted the male pit bull from an unnamed person or rescue seven months earlier. The dog's former owner, who had owned the animal for about three years in a neighboring county, adopted the dog from a Baltimore area rescue group. At the time of the mauling, the 84-pound pit bull was neutered and 4 or 5 years old. Frederick County Animal Control euthanized the dog after the attack. Smith, nicknamed "Smitty," still drove a big rig hauling milk. He told co-workers at Clouse trucking that he often slept with the dog. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 7, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Yes | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Declan Moss, 18-months old, was killed by two family pit bull-mixes. Hernando County sheriff's deputies responded to a mobile home in the 16000 block of Cherokee Road in Deer Haven Estates around 11:00 am for a report of a dog biting a boy. Upon arrival, they found the boy dead. At the time of the attack, Declan was playing on the porch under the care of his grandfather, Gregory Moss, the owner of the dogs. Moss witnessed the attack, but was unable to stop the animals. The two dogs, "Thumper" and "Max," were father and son -- 6-years old and 18-months old accordingly. Neighbor Charles Shorey told the media the dogs had never hurt a person in the past, but had killed smaller dogs. Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said the boy's mother, Sheila Moss, was devastated by her son's death, but was also "defending the dogs" and said, "it's not necessarily the breed of the dog." The sheriff's office initially identified the dogs as "mixed-breeds" then posted images of the dogs to their Facebook page, ending the breed identification dispute. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 19, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Grandfather |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Malaki Mildward, 7-years old, was killed by two adolescent pit bull-mixes while playing outside. Page County sheriff's deputies were called to the 700 block of Glen Avenue around 4:53 pm after a child was attacked by a dog. The boy was transported to Clarinda Regional Health Center, where he died. There were two adult pit bulls, a male and female, living at the home, but were inside at the time. The female, "Road," delivered a litter late last spring; the two attacking dogs were from that litter. Malaki's stepfather, Jeremiah Hicks, was also inside the home during the attack. The boy's mother and two other children were away. When several family members, including a 10-year old boy, returned to the home, they saw Malaki's body in the yard. The dogs had attacked the boy and stripped away most of his clothes. Road had bitten the 10-year old boy four months earlier. His mother reported the biting incident to the sheriff's office and the Iowa Department of Human Services, but DHS classified the bite report as unfounded and no follow through occurred. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 22, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Mother |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Frederick Crutchfield, 63-years old, was killed by three pit bulls. Johnson County sheriff's deputies and Coal Hill police were called to the 1400 block of Spring Street around 9:30 pm, where they discovered an unresponsive man in the woods near his residence. Johnson County Coroner, Pam Cogan, later pronounced him dead at the scene. His body was sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner's Office in Little Rock. On February 20, Johnson County Sheriff Larry Jones issued a press release stating, "The Arkansas Crime Lab has determined the cause of death exsanguination (loss of blood) due to multiple canine injuries. The canines belonged to a family member." Crutchfield served in the Army National Guard for 30-years and was an Iraq war veteran. Five months after his death, in response to an email inquiry, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office confirmed the dogs involved in Crutchfield's death were three pit bulls, the fatal attack occurred on the dog owner's property, none of the dogs were chained and that Crutchfield had known the dogs well. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 4, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Step-son |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
TayLynn DeVaughn, 2-years old, was killed by a pit bull at her aunt's home. The child was attacked at approximately 8:45 pm inside a home she was visiting in the 3900 block of Fleetwood Drive, West Mifflin police Chief Kenneth Davies said. She was transported to Jefferson Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy performed by the Allegheny County medical examiner's office determined she died from multiple sharp wounds and multiple blunt force injuries to the head and neck as a result of the dog attack. Her death was ruled accidental. The child's father, Corey DeVaughn, said the day of the attack was the second time his daughter had been around the pit bull. He also indicated the dog was male, calling the animal "Jake," which suddenly attacked his daughter. "I came in the living room and the dog was just shaking her," DeVaughn said. "When he let her go, she was gone." West Mifflin animal control officer Ken Ferree impounded the dog. He stated the dog was a 3 to 4-year old pit bull-mix that weighed about 80 pounds. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 22, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Aunt's boyfriend |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Roy Higgenbotham Jr., 62-years old, was killed by his roommate's pit bull. The attack occurred around 8:50 pm in the 100 block of 14th Street. Higgenbotham was alerted that his roommate David Wallace had lost consciousness by Wallace's girlfriend. He called 911 then rushed upstairs to help. According to Wheeling police, he was giving Wallace several revival "slaps" to the face when Wallace's pit bull, a female named "Sheba," attacked him. After kicking in the door to the home, police officers heard Higgenbotham screaming and rushed to an upstairs bedroom where they saw him on the floor being attacked by the pit bull, Deputy Police Chief Martin Kimball said. By this stage, the girlfriend had fled out a window onto the roof of the home in fear of the dog. Both Higgenbotham and Wallace were rushed to a local hospital, where both men died. Wallace suffered a fatal heart attack. A preliminary autopsy report showed that Higgenbotham died as a direct result to the injuries he sustained during the attack. The dog severed the radial artery on his left arm. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 8, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Female | Owner of dog: | Roommate |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Betty Wood, 78-years old, was killed by her pet rottweiler. According to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jay Sanders, dispatchers received a call around 7:00 pm about a possible deceased person at a residence in the 1400 block of North Davis Street. Officers learned the victim was 78-year old Betty Wood. Sanders said the victim's daughter trapped the rottweiler in the back room until authorities arrived. Wood lived alone in her home. Her daughter lives next-door. When she went to check on her mother, she found her mangled body. "It was really bad," Sanders said. "I've been doing this for 30 years and that scene was about as gruesome as I've ever seen." The department was able to determine through an investigation that she was killed by the dog. The Medical Examiner's Office in Dallas confirmed these findings the next day. The victim had owned the rottweiler for about five years, investigators said. The canine was surrendered by family members to authorities. Officials euthanized the dog the next day. The Texas Rangers assisted in the death investigation. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 12, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | 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 |
Julia Charging Whirlwind, 49-years old, was killed by multiple dogs in the lower Swift Bear Community on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Mellette County Sheriff Mike Blom responded to a call at 6:07 am. Blom was one of the first officers at the scene. He saw two people trying to fight off two of the dogs. Blom shot and killed both dogs; a third dog fled the scene. Charging Whirlwind was transported to Rosebud Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Witnesses said she had left a relative's house that morning and was walking to her home -- about 100 yards away -- when she was attacked. Immediately after the attack, tribal council members agreed to an emergency measure to round up and destroy aggressive or unwanted dogs in the area. At about 7:00 am, the former Rosebud animal control officer arrived at the scene to provide cages and materials for the emergency round up and identified one of the dogs shot by Sheriff Blom as a brindle pit bull, which had since been placed in the back of a truck. The round up proceeded using that truck that morning. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 14, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (1) Unreleased (2) |
Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Local residents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
De'Trick Johnson, 36-years old, was killed by a pack of pit bulls outside of an auto body shop. Just before 10:00 am, Johnson drove to C.J.'s Garage at 300 Thomas Road to have his car repaired. When he exited his vehicle, seven pit bulls charged through the bottom of the garage's front gate and savagely attacked him. When Jefferson County sheriff's deputies arrived, they shot and killed three of the dogs and captured two. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. The initial cause of death was listed as "massive trauma." Johnson's life partner, John Smith III, is the son of John Chester Smith, who owns C.J.'s Garage and the pit bull pack. Smith said there were multiple victims of these dogs prior to Johnson's death. Family members had warned his father to "get rid of those dogs," Smith said. Authorities said there had been four previous serious biting incidents involving these dogs. One month later, the Jefferson County prosecutor's office charged John Chester Smith with felony manslaughter in connection to Johnson's death. Smith later pleaded no contest. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 21, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (7) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Business owner |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Neta Lee Adams, 81-years old, was found dead in a ditch after being mauled by dogs. Around 8:32 am, a passerby discovered her body in a ditch along the 300 block of Gordon Street. The Wilkes County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation began an investigation into her death. Two days later, an autopsy performed at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab determined the cause of death was traumatic injury caused by dog attack. The manner of death was accidental. "The autopsy results were consistent with what we saw at the scene," Wilkes County Sheriff Mark Moore said. No one witnessed the attack, but neighbors told Sheriff Moore that Adams had a habit of walking and gathering cans early each morning. "There was evidence of a struggle on the ground, with broken yard furniture and scratches, blood, and clothing on the ground," Sheriff Moore said. After her mauling death, the sheriff's department and local authorities aggressively responded to all dog calls, hoping to locate the attackers. The dogs were never found. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 31, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Unknown | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unknown | Owner of dog: | Unknown |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unknown | Multiple dogs: | Unknown |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Kenneth Ford, 79-years old, died after a vicious dog attack. On March 13, around 11:55 am, Nye County sheriff's deputies received a report of a dog attack at 1091 Black Street. Ford was airlifted to University Medical Center in critical condition. Ford went to his neighbor's two-home property that day to feed his cats. The neighbor with the cats lives in one property and rents out a section to a tenant who owns three pit bulls that he kept behind a 6-foot fence. When Ford came to feed the cats, the pit bulls jumped the fence and attacked him. Ford screamed for help and two men ran to help him. The dogs then attacked both men, inflicting serious injuries. The two rescuers were able to drag Ford next door and close the gate, but the pit bulls found a hole in the fence and continued the attack. One man was able to get a gun and shot two of the pit bulls, but the dogs continued the attack undeterred. Authorities arrested and charged the owner of the pit bulls, Ricky Davidson, 40. His dogs had a history of aggression and being at large. Ford died of his injuries on April 14. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 14, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Tenant |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes (MISD) |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Brayden Wilson, 10-weeks old, was killed by a family pit bull in his Redbird area home. The attack occurred around 4:50 pm in the 6800 block of Beechnut Street. Prior to the attack, the baby and his father were inside the home when the father stepped outside to turn on the sprinkler system. When he returned, the pit bull was attacking the infant, who was in a bouncing seat, according to Dallas police. As the father struggled to pull the dog off the baby, the mother returned home and walked in on the scene. The dog bit her twice when she tried to intervene. The father managed to grab the canine by the neck and haul it outside, where he shot the dog twice, killing it. The baby was rushed to Children's Medical Center where he was declared dead. The child's grandmother, Willetta Tate, said the family had owned the male pit bull, "Grady," for 8-years and it had grown up with two other children in the household, 8 and 11-years old. "It's just unexplainable," Tate said. The case was referred to a grand jury to determine whether any charges will be filed, police said. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 19, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Mother |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Gaege Ramirez, 7-years old, was killed by up to five dogs while visiting a Canyon Lake home. The attack occurred just after 6:00 pm in the 2100 block of Rocky Ridge Loop, according to the Comal County Sheriff’s Office. The boy and his mother had just arrived at the residence to visit friends, when Gaege went into the backyard. A short time later, his mother, Amber Hardcastle, found him with "severe lacerations all over his body," said Jennifer Smith, a spokeswoman for the Comal County Sheriff’s Office. Hardcastle said it all happened very quickly. "We got there and he went outside and I went to check on him, and I found him," she said. Gaege was airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio, where he died of his injuries. The Comal County Sheriff’s Office said although the dogs were "unspecified breeds," none were pit bulls. Other media reports identified the dogs as mixed-breeds. District Attorney Jennifer Tharp confirmed that Hardcastle is a felony investigator for the Comal County District Attorney's Office. Animal control seized all five dogs. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 2, 2015 | Chained: | Unreleased |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Mixed-breed (5) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Family friend |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Anthony Wind, 26-years old, was found dead at his home on the evening of May 24, 2015. His home resided in the 1000 block of Monroe Avenue. Rochester police removed an adult rottweiler from the home. Police initially classified Wind's death an "unattended death." It was later learned that Wind suffered severe dog bite injuries at the time of his death. "On May 24, 2015, a rottweiler killed 26-year old Anthony Wind in Rochester, New York; he suffered from seizures for years because of brain trauma, and the dog allegedly assisted him when he had those seizures," states attorney Kenneth Phillips on his website, DogBiteLaw.com. Anthony's girlfriend had adopted the dog from Rochester Animal Services, but the rottweiler had originated from a shelter in Georgia, according to Phillips. This same rottweiler had previously attacked Anthony four times. "Both of his ears had been mauled in separate incidents. Three of the incidents were reported to the authorities, namely Rochester Animal Services. However, they never took back the dog," Phillips said. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 24, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Girlfriend |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
James Nevils III, 5-years old, was killed by his cousin's pit bull while visiting his home. The attack occurred around 9:35 pm in the 8900 block of South Carpenter Street. James and his 7-year old sister were outside with the dog, a Chicago police report said. When his mother let her children and dog back into the home, the dog viciously attacked James. The pit bull latched onto his throat and began shaking him by his neck. The boy's mother dragged the dog by its back legs out the front door onto the lawn, hoping that neighbors would see the attack and help. Two teenage brothers rushed over and began beating the dog with a brick and pole. An adult neighbor stabbed the pit bull multiple times with a knife; he kept stabbing until the knife broke. James was lifeless by the time the pit bull let go. Neighbors continued attacking the dog afterward, killing it. The dog belonged to the boy's cousin, Kyle Hannah, 27, who was away during the attack. Police issued Hannah two administrative "infractions" after the lethal attack. No criminal charges were pursued. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 25, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Female | Owner of dog: | Cousin |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Jordan Collins-Tyson, 3-years old, was killed by a pit bull while under the care of his babysitter. Lawton police were called to the 500 block of Southwest 17th Street at about 9:00 am for a report of a dog attack, Captain Craig Akard said. Jordan was in the backyard of his great-grandmother's home when the dog attacked him. The babysitter was watching the boy through a window from inside the home. In one moment, he was playing outside and in the next, when the babysitter looked again, he was on the ground. After finding him lying in the home's backyard, the babysitter called for help, Akard said. "When officers arrived, the dog was aggressive toward them and had to be shot," Akard said. The pit bull fatally bit the boy's neck. The child was transported to the Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. Lawton animal welfare took custody of the dog. Police said the child had been around the dog before without any problems. In a double tragedy, Jordan's father, Charles Anthony Tyson, was murdered in October 2012, just 8-months after Jordan was born. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 28, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandparents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Norberto Legarda, 83-years old, was killed by three pit bulls that belonged to his daughter's next door neighbor. Pecos police responded to the 1500 block of South Eddy Street around 9:45 am for a report of a vicious dog attack. Just before the attack, Legarda was in his daughter's backyard feeding her Labrador retriever. His daughter was away on vacation. Though adequately maintained fences separated the two homes, the pit bulls found a way into the backyard and began attacking Legarda and the dog. When police arrived, the pit bulls were still attacking the dog and a man was lying in the backyard. Officers had to pepper spray and taser the dogs to reach the injured man. Shortly thereafter, Legarda was pronounced dead. Pecos Police Chief Clay McKinney believes the deadly attack began as a dog fight. "Mr. Legarda probably tried to break up the fight and then the pit bulls turned on him," he said. The Labrador survived his injuries. The owner of the pit bulls, identified as Oscar Rodriguez, gave consent to have his three pit bulls euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 2, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | 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 |
Joshua Strother, 6-years old, was killed by an adopted pit bull. At about 4:15 pm, Henderson County sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call in the 100 block of Piney Ridge Drive. Arriving deputies shot and killed the aggressive the dog. Joshua and his mother were living at a relative's home next to the dog owner's property. "I went to the bathroom and my boy is dead," she wept to 911 dispatchers. The neighbor's family adopted the male, neutered pit bull from Asheville Humane Society (AHS) three weeks earlier. The pit bull had originally come into the Buncombe County shelter, which AHS operates, as a stray with an unknown history. The attack occurred after Joshua climbed the fence to enter his neighbor's yard. He had been climbing the fence to visit the dog since its arrival, as well to play with his neighbor's daughter. After the boy's death, Buncombe County officials ordered a moratorium on pit bull "transfers" from the county to AHS and all adoption agencies while they reviewed Asheville Humane's temperament test procedures and transfer process. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 7, 2015 | 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: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Annie Williams, 71-years old, was killed by a pit bull just after she exited her car. Shaker Heights police said the attack occurred at about 2:00 pm in the 3600 hundred block of Pennington Road. Annie was picking up her two great granddaughters from the home, when a pit bull belonging to someone living at the home brutally attacked her in the driveway. One neighbor, who ran to her aid, shot the dog causing it to flee into the backyard. Another neighbor, who witnessed the attack from her window, said the horrific onslaught lasted 10-minutes. Arriving officers found the pit bull in the backyard and shot it to death. Williams was transported to South Pointe Hospital, where she later died. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office said Williams died from bite wounds and crushing injuries to her neck, throat and body from the dog mauling. On February 23, 2016, a mother and son, Bobbie Green, 70, and Leon Morton, 49, were charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide in connection to her death. They both later pleaded guilty. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 12, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Tenant |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Carolyn Lamp, 67-years old, was mauled to death by a vicious dog pack in Redbird. Deputies received at a call around 11:30 am about a person being attacked by dogs in the 600 block of South Main Street, Wagoner County Sheriff's Major Gary Handley said. "It looks like she had been picking up cans. She died at the scene," he said. The dogs savaged the woman's face and ripped off all of her clothing. Witnesses said she was left unrecognizable. A neighbor saw the attack and tried to save her by running off the dogs, but it was too late. Carolyn was known to walk the area gathering cans to make extra money for her sewing hobby. Wagoner County Sheriff Bob Colbert said that on top of her tragic death, Carolyn knew these dogs. A year earlier, she had asked nearby residents if she could feed them. "It’s ironic," Colbert said, "this lady offered to help these same dogs that a year later took her life." Coweta Animal Control took multiple dogs -- described as pit bulls and rottweilers -- into custody. No one is expected to claim ownership of the canines. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 24, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) Rottweiler (1) |
Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Unknown |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Porsche Nicole Cartee, 25-years old, was mauled and killed by her family pit bull. Spartanburg County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a home on Beverly Hills Drive around 6:00 pm after the dog attacked three family members. Nicole died at the scene. Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger said the cause of death was dog bites to the head and body. The male pit bull, "Spike," had been with the family for 10-years. But on that day, the pit bull "just snapped" and began attacking Nicole's mother, authorities said. When Nicole intervened, the pit bull turned on her. The dog also attacked Nicole's sister. Nicole's mother was hospitalized with serious injuries; her sister was treated on scene. Patrick Powell, Nicole's boyfriend of 10-years, said the two had recently separated, but were planning on reuniting. Powell said the dog had a history of violence; it had attacked Nicole's mother two months earlier. The mother, however, blamed the incident on a stray dog, Powell said. A male cousin confirmed the previous attack to the media, but said the injuries were minor. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 22, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Mother |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Cathy Wheatcraft, 48-years old, was killed by her neighbor's pit bull. The attack occurred just before 7:00 pm in the 200 block of Clark Road as the woman was checking her mail, Davie County Sheriff A.C. Stokes said. A neighbor, Sheena Truesdale, came to her aid and the pit bull attacked her too. She jumped into a car, but the dog latched onto her arm and began dragging her out. When a Cooleemee police officer arrived, the pit bull was actively attacking Truesdale and Cathy was dead. The officer fired three bullets into the dog, killing it. The dog's owner, Latisha Young, was away when her pit bull jumped out a window of her mobile home about 10 feet from the ground. At some point later, the canine began its rampage attack. A few months earlier, Young's pit bull, "Patch" had been declared a nuisance for escaping its property and attacking, ironically, Truesdale's dog. After nearly having her arm ripped off by Patch, Truesdale told the media, it "was a good dog" and she had no idea why the dog "suddenly snapped." Truesdale also owns three pit bulls. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 24, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Barbara McCormick, 65-years old, was killed by up to three family dogs. A friend discovered her body in the yard of her home in the 1400 block of County Road 1 North. Autauga County sheriff's deputies were called to the home around 3:25 pm. She had injuries consistent with a dog attack, Autauga County Sheriff Joe Sedinger said. A preliminary autopsy report confirmed that she died due to the dog attack. The family's three dogs, described as "shepherd or retriever" mixed-breeds, were taken into custody. When deputies arrived, two dogs were loose and one was still tied up. "We’ll really never know what happened," Sedinger said. "But I think the dogs got into a fight when she was feeding them, and maybe she tried to break up the fight, or maybe they knocked her down during the fight." After her death, her son posted images of the three dogs on his Facebook page: a pit bull-mix, shepherd-mix, and golden retriever-mix. The pit bull was never mentioned in media reports. Conflicting reports say the third dog was never even located by authorities. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 4, 2015 | Chained: | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix (1) Shepherd-mix (1 white) Golden retreiver-mix (1) |
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: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Emilio Rios Sr., 65-years old, was killed and a woman gravely injured by two loose pit bull-mixes. The attack occurred in the unincorporated community of North Shore, near the Salton Sea. Riverside County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the 70600 block of Seagull Drive at approximately 6:15 am. Upon arrival, deputies found Emilio dead in the front yard of a residence and the two pit bulls attacking 57-year old Luisa Rodriguez nearby. Deputies heard her screams and responded by driving toward the woman, lights and sirens on, causing the dogs to flee. Luisa was transported to a local hospital with "major" injuries. The two pit bulls were located at a nearby residence. One of the dogs was "extremely aggressive" toward animal control officers and had to be tranquilized. The second dog was also tranquilized, a spokesman for Riverside County Animal Services said. Authorities transported both animals to a facility in Coachella Valley for quarantine. Despite conflicting accounts about the ownership of the dogs, they were ultimately identified as strays. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 8, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Unknown |
| Spay/Neuter: | Mixed | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Carmen Reigada, 91-years old, was killed by three dogs while alone at her family's home. Miami-Dade police were called to the 9400 block of SW 18th Terrace at about 4:00 pm for an unresponsive woman. She was taken to Kendall Regional Hospital, where she died. Miami-Dade Animal Services seized three dogs from the residence, an American bulldog-mix, a Rhodesian ridgeback-mix and a Labrador retriever-shepherd mix. The dogs belonged to her great-grandson, Christopher Cifuentes. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office determined Reigada died of dog bites to the head, neck and extremities. The report states the victim had a "defleshed face" and scalp. "The skin of the scalp and most of the face is absent," the report states, noting that, "muscles of the face are mostly absent" as well. She also suffered multiple rib fractures, lacerations to her liver and lungs, and contusions to her liver, lungs and heart. All three dogs were declared dangerous, slated for euthanasia. For five months, Cifuentes, fought the destruction order of two of the dogs. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 22, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | American bulldog-mix (1) Rhodesian ridgeback-mix (1) Labrador retriever-mix (1) |
Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Great-grandson |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Lamarkus Hicks, 2-years old, was killed by a chained dog after wandering into a neighbor's backyard. Berkeley County sheriff's deputies were called to Lariat Drive around 5:00 pm for a report of a boy bitten by a dog. Lamarkus was taken to a local hospital then airlifted to Children's Hospital in Washington D.C., where he later died. Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said Lamarkus had been playing with several other children inside and outside a cluster of nearby homes when the boy slipped away. He was found badly injured by the dog's owner. The chained dog, "Bubba," was described in media reports as a 14-month old "boxer-mix" and a medium-sized brown "mixed-breed." Photographs taken by police, however, showed the dog was a pit bull-mix. Two days after the attack, the owner surrendered the dog to authorities. He also surrendered a female pit bull and puppies to authorities that were not involved in the attack for adoption, Games-Neely said. No criminal charges were brought against the child's caretakers or the dog's owner. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 28, 2015 | Chained: | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Edgar Brown, 60-years old, died after being viciously attacked by five pit bull-mixes. On October 6, Edgar was asked to visit a friend's rental home in the 2200 block of SW 38 Street to take out the trash. The trashcans were inside a gated area on the side of the home. At some point, the pit bulls belonging to the property behind the rental home, jumped the fence and charged him. Edger tried to hold the gate closed -- keeping the dogs separated from him -- but the dogs found a hole in the fence, ran through it and attacked him on the other side. He was rushed to OU Medical Center. "Flesh was hanging off his arms. It was the most awful mess I’ve ever seen," his brother Dexter Brown said. While hospitalized, his condition deteriorated. In addition to suffering a heart attack, doctors were forced to amputate both of his legs and part of one arm due to infection. Edgar died on October 18. In August 2016, the owner of the dogs, Juan Marcos Diaz, 45, was charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection to his death. In November 2017, Diaz pleaded guilty. [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 18, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix (5) | 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 |
Tanner Smith,5-years old, was killed by two pit bulls while visiting the owner's home. Around 7:00 pm, Orange County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 1700 block of Aloha Street for a report of a dog attack. The boy was rushed to a Beaumont hospital, where he died. Tanner was with his mother, who was visiting a friend, whose father owns the residence and the two pit bulls. Tanner had been jumping on a trampoline outside when one of the pit bulls ran inside the home covered in blood. The mother rushed outside and found her son critically injured. The dogs had pulled Tanner off the trampoline and attacked his face and neck, severing his carotid artery. The mother believed her son was under the supervision of the friend's father outside, but later learned he was not present. When the friend's father learned what happened, he returned home and shot and killed both dogs. In March 2014, the same pit bulls nearly killed a neighbor's puppy named "Rocko." In February 2015, the dogs escaped their property and attacked a 9-year old girl and her mother. [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 18, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Property owner |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Amiyah Dunston, 9-years old, was savagely killed by a tenant's pit bull. Amiyah was visiting her biological father at a home in Elmont on Long Island. She was in the backyard playing with two other girls when a pit bull belonging to a tenant on the second-floor attacked her. After receiving a 911 call at 10:30 am, Nassau County police rushed to the 200 block of Holland Avenue. Upon arrival, the pit bull was still engaged in its assault. Witnesses said the dog latched onto her neck and head, and "shook her like a rag doll." An officer shot the dog three times, killing it. At least one of the two other girls witnessed the attack. Amiyah was transported to Franklin Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The owner of the pit bull, Carlyle Arnold, 29, was arrested at the scene for an unrelated charge of violating a protection order.4 Prior to the attack, Arnold posted a photograph to his Facebook page showing his male pit bull, "Kane," he dubbed, "The beast!" wearing a weighted collar and clenching down on bite strengthening equipment. No criminal charges were filed. [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 8, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Tenant |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Anthony Riggs, 57-years old, was killed by a shelter dog he adopted a few hours earlier. Madison County sheriff’s deputies responded to the 2200 block of Highway 70 East around 3:30 pm for a report of a dog attack. Deputies found him on the floor unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Earlier that day, Riggs adopted a 5-year old male rottweiler from Jackson-Madison County Rabies Control, the county operated shelter. After leaving the shelter around 10:30 am, Riggs took the dog to show it to his son, Thomas Riggs. About 3-hours later, the dog killed Riggs. His wife, Kathy Riggs, called him about 1:00 pm, but he did not answer the phone. She returned home with a co-worker at 3:30 pm and found him dead on the floor. The rottweiler then attacked Kathy and her co-worker, biting them both. Deputies shot and killed the dog on sight. Rabies Control had picked up the dog five days earlier as a stray with an unknown history. The county agency had no evaluation or temperament testing policy before placing a dog up for adoption to the public. [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 12, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | Relationship to dog: | Non-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: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Carter Hartle, 1-months old, was killed by a family pit bull. Oneida County sheriff's deputies responded to 2700 State Route 12B around 7:15 pm after a 911 call stating that her baby had been attacked by the family dog. Lisa Cittadino told deputies that Carter and his three sisters, ages 7, 10 and 12, were playing with the dog, "Diesel," in the living room when it attacked the baby. Cittadino turned her back briefly then heard screams from her children. When she saw the dog attacking her baby, she tried to get it to release its jaws. Once she did, she called 911. The baby was rushed to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Utica, where he died due to facial and neck injuries. According to Cittadino, the dog had never shown aggression since joining the family 2-years ago. The family had raised Diesel as a puppy. Verona Dog Control Officer Susan Gardinier took custody of the canine. The dog was euthanized at the family's request. Afterward, Gardinier identified the dog as a 2-year old pit bull-shar pei mix. Gardinier also stated, "[pit bulls] are bred to latch on, to hang on, and that's what they do." [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 15, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-shar pei mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Mother |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Xavier Strickland, 4-years old, was killed by four vicious pit bulls. At 12:25 pm, Detroit police raced to the 15500 block of Baylis Street after a report of a dog attack. Xavier and his mother were walking down a sidewalk when the pit bulls escaped under a metal gate, snatched the boy out his mother's arms, dragged him across the street, yanked him back under the gate then disemboweled him. His mother witnessed the horror and was severely injured trying to protect her son. An officer open fired, killing three of the pit bulls. The fourth was confiscated. The dogs had a history of escaping their owner's property. Xavier's death caused an outcry in Detroit -- dogfighting, pit bulls, the incessant backyard breeding of pit bulls and stray pit bulls are all part of the city's fabric. Five days after his death, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office charged the dogs' owner, Geneke Antonio Lyons, 41, with second-degree murder, manslaughter and dangerous animals causing death. He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to one year of "work release" jail. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 2, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (4) | 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: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Rebecca Hardy, 22-years old, was killed by a two dogs after climbing over a fence. Around 4:45 pm, Port Huron police found Hardy with extensive injuries to her face and neck in the backyard of a home in the 1700 block of 10th Street. She was taken to a hospital then airlifted to Beaumont Hospital, where she died. Family members said the pit bull "tore the esophagus right out of her throat." A witness said he saw Hardy put one leg over the fence and while still on the fence, the pit bull grabbed her leg, pulled her over and attacked her. A female dog, described as a white husky, also attacked her. The owner then came out and beat the pit bull with a 2-by-4, ending the attack. Oakland County Medical Examiner Ljubisa Dragovic ruled the manner of death suicide. "She did not get through a gate or through the front door of the house -- and that clearly is a purposeful act. It's akin to someone jumping into a cage with tigers or lions at a zoo," Dragovic said. The investigation revealed that Hardy knew the dogs were dangerous. Both dogs and their puppies were destroyed. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 3, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull and husky | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Property tenant |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | (Fined) |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Werner Vogt, 85-years old, was attacked by up to four dogs while riding his bicycle in the Anchor Hill Ranch subdivision on November 12. After not returning from his bike ride, family members found Vogt critically injured and barely conscious in the 700 block of Northwoods Road. He was transported to Springfield Hospital in critical condition. When he emerged from unconsciousness, he told Christian County investigators he was attacked by a pack of dogs. However, for nearly three months Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole believed a "wild cat" was responsible for the attack. DNA results later showed that a group of boxers belonging to Joseph Brink were the culprits. On the day of the attack, detectives interviewed Brink who said three of his dogs were running loose at the time of the attack. Despite this, DNA samples were not taken of his dogs until six months later. By the time his dogs were tested, Brink had already given away two of them. DNA test results eventually linked all four of his boxers -- Chubs, Otto, Hugo and Bruno -- to the death of Vogt. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 4, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Boxer (4) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male (4) | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Maria Torres, 57-years old, was killed by two family pit bulls. Butte County sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 900 block of Dewsnup Avenue around 3:30 pm to perform a welfare check on a woman who did not report to work that day. Upon arrival, they discovered Torres deceased with injuries consistent with a dog attack. Two adult pit bulls were also in the home. Sheriff's investigators believed the victim had tried to break up a fight between the dogs and suffered "grave" injuries as a result. The determination was based upon the fact that both dogs had injuries consistent with fighting each other. "The pit bulls had injuries themselves, indicating they had been in a confrontation, in a fight with one another," said sheriff's spokesperson Miranda Bowersox. The two pit bulls, both male, were described as 3 and 5-years old. Neither dog was neutered. The Butte County Coroner's Office determined the cause of death was blood loss from the injuries she sustained due to a fatal dog attack. Both dogs were surrendered by the family and euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 16, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Nyjah Espinosa, 1-year old, was killed by her father's dog. The attack occurred five days before her second birthday she was set to celebrate on Christmas. Miami-Dade police responded to a home in the 11300 block of Southwest 223rd Street at approximately 6:25 pm for a report of a dog attack. Nyjah was visiting her father's home in Miami-Dade County just before the holidays. Investigators said the little girl was playing in the hallway when the dog attacked her. Miami-Dade Animal Services described the dog as a 5-year old male American bulldog-mix weighing 95-pounds. The child's grandmother, Diley Gonzalas, believed the dog was a pit bull. Gonzalas stated this on the GoFundMe she created to help raise funds for Nyjah's burial costs. "On Sunday, December 20th, 2015, my granddaughter, Nyjah 'Nyny' Espinosa, just 5 days shy of her 2nd birthday, was attacked by a pit bull," Gonzalas said. "Doctors at Miami Children's Hospital tried to keep her with us, but were unable to do so. Our little girl was no longer with us." Police did not release the father's name. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 20, 2015 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | American bulldog-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Father |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2015 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.
DogsBite.org is a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks. Through our work, we hope to protect both people and pets from future attacks. | Make a donation today »
Copyright © 2007-2025 DogsBite.org | Published by Lynn Media Group
DogsBite