2019 dog bite fatalities ::

It often takes several weeks to identify fatal dog attack parameters.1 This is why recent dog bite fatalities may not appear on this page. In the interim, please visit the DogsBite.org blog.

2019 dog bite fatality victims

Dianne Reves

70-years old | Grenada, Mississippi

Dianne Reves, 70-years old, was mauled to death by a pack of loose dogs in her own backyard. Sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 1600 block of Carpenter Road at 3:30 pm on January 10 after a neighbor discovered Reves dead. Investigators believe the attack happened a day earlier. “We’re talking about several hundred dog bites here,” Investigator Josh Dale said. Seven mixed-breed dogs, weighing about 80 pounds each, were seized through a warrant from Grenada County Justice Court and taken into custody. They were tested by a veterinarian and later euthanized. The dogs belonged to a neighbor living two houses down. Reves had worked for many years as a nurse in Grenada. Shirley Holiday, Reeves' co-worker and friend, said that Reves retired about 5 years ago. "She was just looking so forward to it. She had plans," Holiday said. As of January 19, 2019 no one has been charged in connection to her death. [source citations]

Date of death:	January 9, 2019	Chained:	No
Breed of dog:	Mixed-breed (7)	Relationship to dog:	Non-family
Sex of dog:	Mixed	Owner of dog:	Neighbor
Spay/Neuter:	Unknown	Multiple dogs:	Yes
On/Off property:	Off	Criminal charges:	Pending

Lana Bergman

70-years old | Joshua Tree, California

Lana Bergman, 70-years old, was mauled to death by four pit bulls belonging to guests on her property. At about 10:11 pm, deputies from the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of a vicious dog attack in the 59000 block of Sunflower Drive. All four pit bulls were taken into custody. According to Lana's family, the dogs belong to a couple from Oregon who had been staying on Lana's property with their four children after their bus broke down. "These dogs were loaded guns," said Jay Barnett, Lana's brother. "They ended up killing my sister." Barnett characterized the dogs' owners as "squatters" who had "fallen on hard times" and had overstayed their visit at his sister's home. The day before the dogs killed Lana, she had ordered the family to leave her property. "Thursday they are being pulled out no matter if it's raining or what. They have to leave the premises," Lana left in a voicemail to Barnett the day before she died. As of January 25, 2019, no other information has been released. [source citations]

Date of death:	January 16, 2019	Chained:	No
Breed of dog:	Pit bull (4)	Relationship to dog:	Non-family
Sex of dog:	Mix	Owner of dog:	Visitor
Spay/Neuter:	Unknown	Multiple dogs:	Yes
On/Off property:	On	Criminal charges:	Pending

Ed Stanley

85-years old | Amarillo, Texas

Ed Stanley, 85-years old, died two weeks after he was attacked by loose dogs on his driveway. On January 7, Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare responded to a 911 call about a man being attacked by two dogs in the 4400 block of Evelyn Street in Amarillo. "911 was notified that a citizen was being attacked. Police, fire, and EMS, as well as us responded,” said Richard Havens, Director of Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare. “His legs were attacked, his face was attacked, his arms were attacked,” Havens said. This was not just a dog attack, the man was mauled by a pit bull-mix and shepherd-mix, officials said. Havens said the attack "was definitely headed towards a fatality had it not been for the tremendous nature of this citizen willing to put their life and limb at risk to save another." The next-door neighbor who rushed to help Stanley was never named in the media reports. Both dogs were taken into custody. The District Attorney's Office is reviewing the case for possible criminal charges. [source citations]

Date of death:	January 21, 2019	Chained:	No
Breed of dog:	Pit bull-mix and shepherd-mix	Relationship to dog:	Non-family
Sex of dog:	Unknown	Owner of dog:	Neighbor
Spay/Neuter:	Unknown	Multiple dogs:	Yes
On/Off property:	Off	Criminal charges:	Pending

Ashton McGhee

1-year old | Guthrie, Kentucky

Ashton McGhee, 1-year old, was mauled to death by a family pit bull-mix. Guthrie police responded to a home on North Ewing Street where they found a 1-year old boy on the couch, unresponsive, but breathing. The child had "deep abrasions to the head, chest, and neck" from being mauled by the family pit bull-mix, police said. The child's grandmother and great-grandmother suffered injuries while trying to pull the dog off the toddler. The baby had been playing with a ball on the floor when the dog came inside from outdoors. The dog attacked the baby, including breaking the baby's jaw. The baby and grandmother were transported to Tennova Medical Center in Clarksville, where the baby died of his injuries. According to family members, Ashton lived in Hopkinsville, Kentucky with his mother, Miranda McGhee, and his two siblings. Ashton had been playing at his grandparent's home in Guthrie when the dog attacked him. His grandfather told police the dog normally played with the boy calmly. [source citations]

Date of death:	February 7, 2019	Chained:	No
Breed of dog:	Pit bull-mix	Relationship to dog:	Family
Sex of dog:	Unknown	Owner of dog:	Grandparents
Spay/Neuter:	Unknown	Multiple dogs:	No
On/Off property:	On	Criminal charges:	No

DogsBite.org contains verifiable information about U.S. citizens killed by dogs including the name and age of each victim, location of attack, dog breed and up to 25 other factors. Our Fatality Citations section documents sources used in our dog bite fatality research. Learn more about our data collection method, which includes collecting breed identification photographs, police and coroner reports in certain cases, legal filings, court filings, legislative materials and more.