Cason Bryant, 5-years old, was killed by a pack of mixed-breed dogs.
Funeral Arrangements Set
UPDATE 11/17/10: Russell County Sheriff-Elect Heath Taylor says his office determined that five of the 12 mixed-breed dogs attacked the child. All of the dogs were euthanized. All but one of the dogs belonged to the victim's neighbor; the other belonged to the victim's family. “We’re not going to charge anybody at this point,” Sheriff-Elect Taylor said, who did not identify the owner of the dog pack. “What I feel like has happened is that the dogs got into a fight and the child was in the middle of it.”
"Taylor said an investigation revealed that 11 dogs “slipped under” a fence behind the house at 84 McElvey Road in rural Russell County and got into a fight next door with a dog owned by Cason’s family. All 12 dogs were euthanized, and Taylor said investigators have since determined that only five of the dogs were involved in the fatal attack." - The Ledger-Enquirer
Sheriff-Elect Taylor said the evidence suggests that Bryant's dog got into a fight with the neighbor's dogs and the child was in the wrong place at the wrong time. "Somehow in that fight the child was either in the middle of them when they started fighting or had tried to get his dog off of them and that's how eventually the dogs turned on the child," Taylor said. The autopsy determined that Bryant died from Hypobolemic Shock due to the severity of injuries including loss of blood and swelling.
11/16/10: Boy Killed by Dog Pack
Phenix City, AL - A 5-year old East Alabama boy was killed by a pack of dogs, authorities said. Russell County Coroner Arthur Sumbry identified the child as Cason Bryant, who may have been killed by as many as 12 mixed-breed dogs. The attack occurred after 1:00 pm in the family's yard on McElvey Road, Russell County Sheriff-Elect Health Taylor said. The boy was pronounced dead at 2:32 pm. Bryant's body will be sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for an autopsy.
"Taylor said investigators still are considering whether to file charges in the case. He said the boy’s family owns an outside dog, but that several of the dogs involved in the attack belong to a neighbor. “Technically, you’re responsible for your dogs, but if they break under your fence, is that your fault?” Taylor said, adding the case will likely be handed over to the district attorney’s office." - The Ledger-Enquirer
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08/19/09: 2009 Fatality: Senior Couple Killed by Pack of Dogs in Oglethorpe County
07/01/09: Pack of Wild Dogs May Have Killed Elderly Man in Alabama
It's always some unidentifiable "wild dogs" over there in The South. Looks like alot of people just don't want to identify the offending dogs as pit bulls to protect their own interests (Many are breeders and sellers of pit bulls).
The way the sheriff is handling this is DISGUSTING. How can anyone infer from the evidence that this was a dog fight that the boy's dog participated in? This was 11 marauding dogs that targeted the boy and the dog.
How can you be in the wrong place at the wrong time in your own yard?
This is the third mauling this year that involved people hoarding a pack of dogs.
The videos of the sheriff seem heartfelt. I think he genuinely feels sorrowful about the terrible incident. In one video he mentions that the two families are good friends as well, making the incident even more "tragic" (in his eyes). When you look at Russell County Sheriff-Elect Heath Taylor's language more closely, however, it starts to spell a very different story. "11 dogs," no biggie (perfectly normal), "off property attack," no biggie (the child was in the wrong place at the wrong time). I'm still wondering if Taylor may be going after the victim's family for neglect. After all, it's criminal to let your own child play in his yard. The chips are stacked in Taylor's favor too. "The general rule in Alabama is you’re only held criminally liable in a case in which it’s an animal known to be vicious or dangerous,” Russell County District Attorney Ken Davis said, referring to state law. “Generally, that means they’ve bitten someone before or there was a previous attack." Although Alabama is strict liability for civil recourse; it's a one bite free state for criminal recourse. There is no provision to "blame the deed" or "blame the owner." This is a rotten, rotten case and as you mention, another case this year involving a HOARDER.
i need an interpreter.
whose dog got into a fight with whose dog on whose property? and whose property was cason on when he was killed?
it sounds like the boy was in his yard. how can you be in the wrong place at the wrong time on your own property?
far too many pronouns in this article to be completely sensical.
and can anyone explain to me why anyone in the united states outside of an indian reservation is allowed to own 12 dogs and not chain or kennel them? some of these attack details read like they occurred in a third world country.
Someone left this comment:
Posted by OutragedAmerican on Nov. 17, 2010 – 7:28 p.m.
"This is an outrage. "the dog got into a fight with the Neighbor's dogs?" Uh NOOO
The neighbor's ELEVEN dogs came onto this little boy's PRIVATE property and mauled him and the dog that was PROTECTING HIS BOY and his PROPERTY.
"SOMEHOW'????????? No. The owner was NEGLIGENT and allowed his dogs out to COMMIT A HOMOCIDE.
"The little boy was in the wrong place at the wrong time?" ARE YOU KIDDING ME? HE WAS IN HIS YARD. He was not collateral damage – HIS CLOTHES WERE RIPPED OFF. He was the targeted prey of these maurauding dogs.
So Phenix City puts dog owner's rights over the rights of the child, the rights of his family, the rights of private property?
Where are the interviews with neighbors? Why do we not know what kind of dogs these were or if this was a breeding operation. Were these fighting dogs?
CHARGES SHOULD BE BROUGHT AGAINST THE DOG OWNER.
This is the USA. We are not savages. We respect and cherish our children, not to mention the sanctity of a person's private property.
WE DO NOT PUT THE RIGHTS OF DOG OWNERS OVER CHILDREN!"
—
http://www2.wrbl.com/news/2010/nov/16/officers-wrapping-investigation-dog-attack-killed–ar-1098186/
Cason Lange Bryant June 24, 2005 – November 15, 2010 PHENIX CITY, AL— Cason Lange Bryant, 5 of Phenix City, AL went home in the arms of our Lord on Monday, November 15, 2010 at his home in Phenix City. Funeral services will be held 11 am EST Friday at Vance Memorial Chapel in Phenix City with Dr. Ray Cummings officiating. Interment will follow at Lakeview Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends this evening (Thursday) from 5 to 8 pm EST at the funeral home. Cason was born June 24, 2005 in Columbus, GA to Ray Edward Bryant and Jennifer Alicia Marchant Bryant of Phenix City, AL. He was a kindergarten student at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Smiths Station. Cason and his family attended Golden Acres Baptist Church in Phenix City. He enjoyed spending time with his sister, Madison and playing video games. Cason had many hobbies as a very young boy, his favorite was T-Ball and all kinds of water sports…
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ledger-enquirer/obituary.aspx?n=cason-lange-bryant&pid=146682860&fhid=10431#ixzz15g4y5dlY