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Saturday, January 31, 2009


2006 Dog Bite Fatality: John Matthew Davis, Killed by a Pack of Pit-Mixes?

Guilty: Sentenced to 5 Years
UPDATE 01/31/09: On Friday, a jury convicted Bentley Collins after about two hours of deliberating. Circuit Court Judge Paul Burch sentenced Collins to five years in prison for the manslaughter charge and three years each for two of the three dangerous animals charges, which will run concurrent to the manslaughter sentence. The third of those charges was suspended to five years’ probation, which can be reduced to three years if he pays $8,000 in funeral expenses to Matthew’s family.

Fourth Circuit Solicitor Kernard Redmond told Burch that Collins should get the maximum penalty (14 years) for his crime because even after Matthew’s death, Collins owned unconfined dogs. Law enforcement officers have been receiving complaints about his animals since August. "The defendant still has pit mixes running around on his property," Redmond said. "It’s almost an act of defiance (and) disregard by the client. One would think you could govern your behavior differently."
The dogs that killed Davis were undoubtedly pit bull-mixes, not "bulldog-boxer mixes" as was originally reported. Under the Freedom of Information Act we will attain these records and adjust our 2006 fatality statistics accordingly.
In addition to raising new pit bulls after the violent death of Davis, a separate article shines another eerie light on Collins. We refer you back to the 1945 fatal attack of Doretta Zinke. The owner of the pit bulls that killed Zinke, Joe Munn, was a breeder of fighting dogs. Munn was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in jail. He served just one. Ten years later, with a new crop of pit bulls, his dogs attacked again. Munn told reporters the attack was "something that happens once in a million years."

After Collins was sentenced, he spoke to the media about the verdict. Though in a different context, he used the same phrase spoken by Munn. He said, "Not in a million years would I ever even considered that they could come back with a guilty verdict or any of them, much less all of them. I mean you know not in a million years..." Once Collins serves his jail time, we expect he will hop to a new state and continue to breed pit bulls. We also expect these dogs to create new victims.

01/27/09: Emotional Trial Begins
Testimony began today in the case of a Dillon County man charged in the fatal mauling of a 10-year old boy. Matthew Davis was found dead by his mother, Caroline Davis, after six dogs attacked him in the driveway of Bentley Collins' home. Fourth Circuit Deputy Solicitor Kernard Redmond, who is prosecuting the case, said Collins is partially to blame for the boy’s death. He said the dogs killed Matthew because they were hungry.

Through witness accounts, the article describes in detail how the dogs ate the little boy. We do not advise that you read it unless you can stomach this type of language. Of the many fatal dog attacks DogsBite.org has reviewed, the tragedy of Matthew Davis is one of the most horrific. This is amplified by the fact that there were 6 dogs involved. Testimony heard today included: his mother, 17-year old Bobby Chavis, and Dr. Edward Proctor, who performed the autopsy.

Dr. Robert Hooker, a veterinarian, testified he examined the dogs and found them to be slightly malnourished. He testified during cross-examination, however, that the dogs’ condition was consistent with most dogs living in Dillon County. (This is does not support the prosecution's argument that severe hunger and neglectful ownership led to the fatal attack.) The prosecution and defense attorneys are expected to call 10 witnesses each to testify during the trial.

To end the mystery of the "stolen" dog, we were told that during the trial, the court clarified that the dog had escaped the shelter and was later found dead near a Dillon highway.

01/26/09: Opening Statements Tomorrow
A judge heard pre-trial matters in the case against Bentley Collins today. Deputies say his dogs attacked and killed 10-year old John Matthew Davis in November of 2006. Prosecutors told the judge they dismissed three of the six charges of owning dangerous animals against Collins. He continues, however, to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the child's death. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow.

05/02/08: 10-Year Boy Old Found in Neighbor's Yard
Dillon County, SC - A new date has been set in the trial of a man whose dogs authorities say killed a 10-year old boy November 3rd, 2006. According to 4th Circuit Deputy Solicitor Kernard Redmond, who is prosecuting the case, Bentley Collins, 53 will be tried June 16th on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of John Matthew Davis. The boy had been on his way home when he was attacked by the group of dogs.

Investigators said the boy was found dead after six bulldog-boxer mixes attacked him at Collins’ home in Emanuelville. Collins surrendered to sheriff’s deputies two days after they obtained warrants for his arrest on charges of involuntary manslaughter and keeping unconfined, dangerous animals at his home. On the day of Collins’ arrest, five of his dogs were euthanized. The sixth dog was stolen from the county pound prior to Collins surrendering.

Few other details were found about this case background online.

Related articles:
12/29/08: Part III: Doretta Zinke, 39, Killed by 9 Pit Bulls (1945)
10/11/08: Fatal Dog Mauling Trial of Tanner Joshua Monk, 7 Years Old
05/16/08: 2006 Fatality: Second Trial Begins for Pit Bull Owner in Kansas City

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23 comments:

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/26/2009 7:25 PM  |  Flag  
How come you never hear about a pack of poodles attacking and killing a person? It's always a pack of bulldogs, pit bulls and, or their mixes. The only other dog breed you hear about in a fatal pack attack is the wolf-hybrid, and these dogs are outlawed nearly everywhere.

The pit bull, bulldog packs have been killing people since at least 1945. Why do people let it continue?

http://www.dogsbite.org/blog/2008/11/part-i-doretta-zinke-39-killed-by-9-pit.html

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/27/2009 4:10 AM  |  Flag  
The dog was stolen because the dog was worth money to dog fighters

And why wasn't that dog promptly euthanized? Did someone at animal control enable this theft?

If the community had dealt with this unlicensed dog fighter breeder properly, this killing would never have happened.

There need to some laws pertaining to dog breeders, because the dog fighters exploit the lack of laws and they flourish. And people die.

Blogger bitbypit  |  1/27/2009 11:50 AM  |  Flag  
According to older news reports, Collins was MIA for two days after the police issued a warrant for his arrest. During this time, all 6 dogs were being stored at the pound under a 10-day quarantine.

Just before Collins turned himself in, one of the dogs (the most prized we imagine) was stolen from the pound. At this point, authorities euthanized the remaining 5 dogs instead of keeping them alive for the 10-day quarantine.

[This is at least what we gathered by looking at sparse, older news reports]

It is unknown what happened to the stolen dog.

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/27/2009 11:54 AM  |  Flag  
Thank you for the info, bitbypit

I have read of some situations where it is believed that someone at the animal control shelter helped the dog owner steal the do, particularly if they were to be euthanized

Perhaps impounds should be immediately microchipped upon receipt. It would be great to have that microchip contain a tracking device, but that technology is well in the future I am afraid

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/28/2009 3:56 AM  |  Flag  
South Carolina seems to be fairly aggressive in pursuing Manslaughter convictions against these failed lion tamers.

I think they have gone after the last three failed lion tamers.

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/28/2009 10:28 AM  |  Flag  
It is beyond ridiculous to claim that these dogs killed the boy because they were "hungry."

Pit bulls and related breeds dismember. This is what they do.

When the dogs were killing chickens, the dogs needed to be confiscated as dangerous dogs. They weren't.

This county has blood on its hands for failing to cope with dangerous dogs.

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/28/2009 11:40 AM  |  Flag  
The latest article doesn't even mention the breed name. They must have worked REALLY HARD back in 2006 to carefully name the dogs "bulldog-boxer" mixes to the media. You don't STEAL bulldog-boxer mixes from a pound; you steal a pit bull for breeding or fighting purposes. This case is suspicious to be sure. You can smell the protection of these dogs all over the place...A pack of aggressive bulldog-boxer mixes (or rather pit bull-mixes), particularly if bred for the purposes of fighting hardly need the reason of hunger to attack and kill a child.

Anonymous Trigger  |  1/28/2009 8:40 PM  |  Flag  
Prosecution has rested its case:
http://www.scnow.com/scp/news/local/pee_dee/article/witness_in_fatal_dog_mauling_trial_says_dogs_were_aggressive/30285/

Taylor Hayes, Collins’ son, testified each person in their family had a dog and each animal was well cared for. They had several dogs including his dog Sarge, Two Toes, Three Fingers and Cody who was “everybody’s dog,” Taylor said. Matthew was his best friend and the two would run in the yard with the dogs, he said, Cody would even jump on the trampoline with them. His father never mistreated the animals and would talk to them like they were human, Taylor said.

Hard to say what the jury will think of this one. They certainly won't forget the photos of the boy. Since the dogs attacked on owner property, it may be that the prosecution MUST prove the dogs were neglected...

Blogger Jenn  |  1/29/2009 3:04 PM  |  Flag  
Unlike most of you, I knew Matthew. He would sit with me in church. I was in VA the day Matthew died. Bentley Collins should be responsible for his death due to the fact that he did not have a fence around his yard. I have been by his house on several occassions and I know his yard is big enough to house those 6 dogs, but he should have had a fence. For me this case is personal. Matthew was one of the sweetest boys I know. He left behind 2 older brothers and a younger sister. Some people are asking about the six dogs. The one that was stolen was the only female. If I'm not mistakened they were pit bull.

Blogger bitbypit  |  1/29/2009 4:10 PM  |  Flag  
Unfortunately, DogsBite.org did not come online until October 2007. We had to back track in Internet archives to find information about Matthew and there was very little to be had. The news accounts always said that he was attacked in Bentley's driveway. The articles never mentioned if there was a fence or not, nor did they mention much of anything regarding "restraint." This is the first time we have learned that Bentley did not even have a fence to restrain his dogs.

Given that the dogs have been called "bulldog-mixes" and "boxer-mixes" is a strong indicator that the animals were pit bulls or pit bull-mixes. These terms are frequently used to cover up the pit bull breed. Furthermore, the fact that someone stole one of the dogs from the pound is another indicator the animals were pit bulls. People do not steal "bulldog-mixes" or "boxer-mixes." People steal pit bulls, which have value for future breedings and fighting purposes.

Everyone here hopes that Bentley Collins is found responsible in this young boy's tragic death.

Blogger bitbypit  |  1/29/2009 11:01 PM  |  Flag  
UPDATE: DogsBite.org was told by a reporter today (01/29) that during the trial, the court clarified that the dog had escaped the shelter and was later found dead near a Dillon highway. We told the reporter that pit bulls were notorious escape artists. In fact last year, a pit bull crawled out of a 9-foot cage at the Leflore County Humane Society.

As soon as the trial ends, we will issue an update to the blog post.

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/30/2009 11:45 PM  |  Flag  
"The one that was stolen was the only female." A producer. Breeder. For his pit bull breeding business

What did the county think he was breeding those pit bulls for?

Jenn, unfortunately a fence is not enough. Pit bulls dig under fences, climb, or get out when someone leaves a gate open.

And the fact that these dogs were unspayed and unneutered made it all worse!

Pit bulls don't belong anywhere near children, adults, pets, livestock- which means they don't belong in our society.

There is no fence built that will contain dogs that will do anything to kill.

And pit bulls are bred to kill, no matter what the breeders and dog fighters say.

It is sad that your county does not have better dangerous dog laws. Those dogs should have been confiscated when they were killing chickens. Maybe people can get together and get those laws passed so another child does not have to die.

The county shares some guilt for this terrible death, which was preventable and predictable. These dogs had shown they had problems!

These dogs, for all the gooey stories, are not pets. They are breeding stock for a terrible business which the public has mostly learned about in the past few years.

And the people who own pit bulls are not considerate of others. They put other people and pets and risk.

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/30/2009 11:47 PM  |  Flag  
"This is the first time we have learned that Bentley did not even have a fence to restrain his dogs."

Big problem in many Southern states. There are no or few animal control laws.

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/31/2009 1:43 AM  |  Flag  
If you watch the video, the reporter claims that the Perp obtained more Pit Bulls last year, and that they were harassing neighbors!

MALICE!

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/31/2009 11:05 AM  |  Flag  
When will this county understand that this man is running a BUSINESS?

People knew that Michael Vick was involved in fighting and breeding fighting dogs for years. It was a business.

When questioned, he just used the usual "I'm breeding pets" or "they are show dogs" and the authorities look the other way.

These people are hiding in plain sight.

If there just were some rules for breeding businesses- some regulations, requirements, licensing, inspections- this kind of thing can be dealt with.

These people are also making massive amounts of money, not declaring income or paying taxes, and robbing their own communities and states.

They go to some of these southern states because there just seems to be an utter ignorance of what this industry is up to, or even authority figures involved in it

Innocent people and pets suffer!

Anonymous Anonymous  |  1/31/2009 11:06 AM  |  Flag  
His neighbors need to get the video cameras going. They need to show the world what they are dealing with, and the inadequacy of local authorities to protect them

They have to fight for their kids' lives!!

Anonymous Diane  |  1/31/2009 3:55 PM  |  Flag  
Bulldogs ARE pit bulls and Boxers are one third pit.
No matter which breed you call them, they ARE pit bulls!

Anonymous Anonymous  |  2/04/2009 5:22 AM  |  Flag  
Well another mankilling pit breeding operation.

Just like:

The Muncie piticide 2 months ago
Tanner Monk
The Roubidoux visting grandfather
The Taylor boy from last year
Charles Smallwood

I'm sure there are many others. The Pit Community is not horrified for some reason.

Anonymous Trigger  |  2/06/2009 4:30 AM  |  Flag  
Appeal filed in dog mauling trial
---
NewsChannel 15 has learned a Dillon County man convicted in the death of a 10 year old boy has filed an appeal of his five year prison sentence and conviction.

Last week, a jury found Bentley Collins guilty of involuntary manslaughter and owning dangerous animals. In 2006, Collins' six dogs mauled to death, 10 year old John Matthew Davis as he walked home. Collins has asked to be released from jail on bond while his appeal is pending. No word on if that will happen or when his appeal will be heard.

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=256322

Anonymous Anonymous  |  2/07/2009 1:32 PM  |  Flag  
Convicted Dillon dog owner transferred to state prison
By Jody Barr
WBTW News 13 Reporter
Published: February 6, 2009
----------
The Dillon man convicted of involuntary manslaughter and keeping unconfined dangerous animals in the mauling death of 10-year-old Matthew Davis in 2006 now sits in a state department of corrections facility in Columbia.

A Dillon County jury convicted Bentley last Friday after a five day trial after investigators said his six pit bull mix dogs attacked Matthew Davis. Collins spent nearly a week in the Dillon County Detention Center awaiting an opening in the state prison system.

Thursday, Collins was booked and assigned a temporary room at the Kirkland Correction Institution in Columbia. From there, corrections officials will assign Collins to a state prison within the next several weeks...

Collins’ projected parole date is Jan. 28, 2011 and his projected release date is set for Feb. 3, 2012, according to the state department of corrections.

http://www.scnow.com/scp/news/local/pee_dee/article/convicted_dillon_dog_owner_transferred_to_state_prison/32079/

Blogger Betty  |  8/05/2011 8:32 PM  |  Flag  
bentley collins is a monster an should have got life in prison,this is not the first time he has children,i am from kentucky an i no him well he is a monster an likes to hurt children.

Blogger Betty  |  8/05/2011 8:39 PM  |  Flag  
bentley collins is a child molester, i have known him all my life,this is not the first time he hurt a child.

Blogger Betty  |  8/05/2011 8:41 PM  |  Flag  
which stat prison did they send him to.

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