Man in Critical Condition After Pit Bull Attack Dies; Owner Charged with Resisting Arrest, Obstruction

After man was mauled by a pit bull, the owner was charged with resisting arrest and obstruction.


On February 11, we received notice that Michael Fabjon passed away on Sunday, February 9 at Bay Medical Center in Panama City. He was viciously attacked by a pit bull belonging to Brendan Murphy on February 4 at a residence on Laird Street. He sustained life-threatening injuries to his throat and the front and back of his neck. Murphy was charged with resisting without violence and obstruction for blocking animal control officers from entering his home to take possession of his pit bull, "Gunner."


Man in Critical Condition
Panama City Beach, FL - Last Tuesday, a man sustained critical injuries after being attacked by a pit bull belonging to his neighbor. Bay County sheriff's deputies responded to an emergency medical call at 8115 Laird Street around 5:00 pm. Upon arrival, he found Michael Fabjon Jr., 49, unconscious and injured from the dog attack. CPR was administered at the scene. He was transported to a hospital and admitted into the ICU. Fabjon sustained critical injuries to his throat and the back of his neck.

According to Pamela Dennis, who began administering CPR before deputies arrived, Fabjon's dog and a pit bull belonging to another resident got into a fight. Dennis and Fabjon were able to break up the fight, but the pit bull, "Gunner," took off. Not long after, Gunner returned and began to attack Fabjon, Dennis said. "Gunner took Fabjon to the ground and then began biting Fabjon's neck while violently shaking his head," reports the Panama City News Herald. Gunner belongs to Brendan Murphy, 28.

After Bay County Animal Control arrived, a deputy escorted the AC officers to confiscate the dog, but Murphy blocked them from entering his residence, saying "no one was going to take his dog." Charging documents state that after police asked him "several times" to stop blocking the front door, "the defendant was placed in double-locked handcuffs." During this scuffle, Murphy resisted arrest. He was charged with resisting without violence and obstruction. He was taken to the Bay County Jail.

"Bay County Animal Control responded to the scene to take possession of the defendant's dog. The defendant stated several times that no one was going to take his dog. The dog was located inside the residence during this time. The defendant walked toward the front door and stood in front of the door. He was asked to move away from the door several times before I asked him to place his hands behind his back. This was due to him refusing to allow animal control to take possession of the dog. I grabbed his wrist, and he pulled away. Another Deputy assisted and the defendant was placed in double-locked handcuffs. He was placed in the back seat of my marked patrol vehicle and taken to the Bay County Jail. The defendant did resist by pulling his arm away and attempted to obstruct animal control from removing his dog from the residence." - Arrest affidavit complaint, 02/04/25

Criminal Investigation Division Lt. Chris Coram spoke to WMBB. "It was described that the individual was thrashed about by the dog when the dog was able to get the man to the ground so most of the injuries that we saw were located in the upper chest, to the neck, in the front of the throat and the back of the neck," Coram explained. Animal control officers took possession of the dog. It was euthanized that night due to Fabjon's severe injuries. Gunner also had a history of violence and attacks.

Coram then clarified the classification of Gunner (who was likely classified as "dangerous" after the attack). It is an "animal by animal basis," he said, "It's not anything specifically against pit bull breeds. The classification of the dog is simply based upon whether or not the dog has shown violence in the community before." Outside of Miami-Dade county, Florida law has not allowed for the type of breed-specific law Coram describes -- declaring a breed prima facia "vicious" or "dangerous"-- since 1989.

Insufficient Felony Law

Gunner had a history of violence and attacks but was not declared "dangerous" for these acts prior to nearly killing Fabjon. If the dog had been, Murphy might also be facing a third-degree felony. "If a dog that has previously been declared dangerous attacks and causes severe injury to or death of any human, the owner is guilty of a felony of the third degree," states the Florida statute. But a legal designation prior to a "new" vicious attack is rare, which is why such felony laws are largely useless.

For instance, as soon as Gunner was classified as "dangerous" he was put down. Owning a dog declared dangerous in most states comes with a slew of responsibilities, restrictions and legal liability. It's simpler for these owners to call the dog a loss and acquire a new one. This is called the "vicious dog loop" because it allows irresponsible owners to habitually acquire new vicious dogs. Thus, felony laws that require a vicious or dangerous classification before eligibility of prosecution are fruitless.

Hardships on the Horizon

On New Year's Eve, Murphy was arrested for disorderly conduct after punching a man in the face. He was intoxicated and resisted being restrained by security guards. One guard "had to tackle and restrain Brendan again due his disruption of the establishment and his level of intoxication until law enforcement arrived," states the arrest affidavit. Murphy pleaded no contest. The case was adjudicated guilty on January 3 as a second-degree misdemeanor. The new charge is first-degree.

"On 12/31/2024, law enforcement was dispatched to 8711 Thomas Dr in reference to a fight that occurred at the bar. Upon arrival Newby's security, XXXXX stated Brendan Murphy had punched another customer at the bar and had to be restrained. Upon law enforcement arriving to Newby's, Brendan was on the ground resisting several security guards who were attempting to restrain him. Brendan was yelling profanities while on the ground ...

XXXXX provided a sworn statement stating that he is employed to work as security for the bar ... While standing there tonight, he observed Brendan punch XXXXX in the face. XXXXX then ran and tackled Brendan ... he then escorted him downstairs due to the disturbance that Brendan was causing. While downstairs ... Brendan stated he was not going to jail and then ran again ... they then had to tackle and restrain Brendan again due his disruption of the establishment..." - Arrest affidavit complaint, 01/01/25

If the victim survives his severe injuries, he faces legal proceedings for possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon -- out of the hospital and into the courtroom. He pleaded not guilty in July 2024. If convicted, it is a second-degree felony with a 3-year mandatory prison sentence. The predicament of Fabjon isn't good. The predicament of Murphy isn't good either. Gunner, the pit bull, compounded the already difficult lives of both men by leaving them with long-term consequences.

Pit Bull Dog Aggression

During the first decade of our nonprofit, we saw many "subtypes" of dog aggression defined by the shelter industry, such as stranger aggression, owner aggression, fear aggression, and redirected aggression. But for 18 years, we have seen dog-aggressive pit bulls jump this "compartmentalization" and kill a person. Enough fatal pit bull maulings also have a dead animal at the scene -- the pit bull killed a person and animal during the attack -- that this became one of our tracking parameters.

Gunner took off after two people separated the dog fight. Then he came back -- Murphy lives on the same property as Fabjon and his dog. It's no surprise the dog returned home. According to reports, Fabjon was in the process of "putting his dog up" when Gunner returned. But he didn't (or couldn't) attack the dog again, he just attacked Fabjon, biting into his upper chest, the front of his throat and the back of his neck. No matter the aggression "subtype," this was a disproportionate response.

dog owner resisting arrest obstruction

Pit bull "Gunner" seen at the Bay County animal shelter facility before being euthanized.

Related articles:
05/01/23: 2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Man Killed by Three Pit Bulls in Escambia County, Florida
03/03/23: 2022 Dog Bite Fatality: Postal Carrier Dies After Attack by Dog Pack in Putnam County

Oakland Man with Criminal Past Facing Multiple Felonies -- Including Assault with a Deadly Weapon -- for His Attack Dogs

deadly weapon charges dog attack Oakland
Man faces assault with a deadly weapon charge after ordering his dogs to attack.

Dog Owner Faces Charges
Oakland, CA - A man with a lengthy criminal history spanning from at least San Francisco to Fresno is now facing four felony charges after his two vicious dogs attacked police officers and security guards in a 24 hour period. Rafael Rivas, a 38-year old resident of Oakland, has been charged with three counts of failure to control a dangerous animal after his dogs inflicted multiple damaging bites and one count of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly commanding his dogs to attack a security guard.

The chain of events began on January 13 outside the Grocery Outlet in the 2900 block of Broadway in Oakland. This is where Rivas allegedly ordered his dogs to attack security guards on the premises. "They allegedly singled out one security officer and bit him repeatedly, requiring 'emergency medical attention' for puncture wounds to his finger and leg, police said in court records," reports the Mercury News. The next attack occurred the following day after Rivas was detained by Oakland police officers.

While Rivas was handcuffed in the back of an Oakland Police Department squad car, his two vicious dogs broke free of their restraints and attacked police officers. It is unknown how his dogs were being restrained at the time. During this incident, Rivas had no way to physically stop his dogs. Officer Vern Saechao sustained a bite wound to his arm and Sgt. Colin Cameron sustained a bite wound to his leg. Both officers required emergency medical attention and stitches, reports the Mercury News.

Police did not disclose the breed of dogs involved or their disposition. Since the dogs are part of all four felonies, it's safe to assume they are being held alive as evidence. As for the breed-type, one can imagine a mastiff-pit bull (combat dog) variant. Ever since Diane Whipple was killed by two presa canarios in an upscale San Francisco apartment in 2001, the popularity of these mastiff cross-breeds exploded in California. The caretaker of the two presa canarios, Marjorie Knoller, is still in prison.

According to crime scraper sites (websites that scrape crime data from city and county databases), Rivas has a criminal history dating back to 2019 in at least five California counties, including grand theft, domestic violence, acts of indecent exposure, threats of violence, petty theft and trespassing. The Alameda Superior Court portal site shows that Rivas was charged with four felonies under the dog attack statute on January 16. He was also charged with 14 sentencing enhancement felonies.

On January 17, Rivas pled not guilty to the dog attack charges and denied all of the enhancements. In Alameda County, Rivas has active/pending cases involving a misdemeanor "criminal threats" (filed in April 2024) and misdemeanor "engaging in lewd conduct" (filed in April 2023). He was sentenced to 10 days in jail and one year probation for the latter charge. But that probation was revoked halfway through. Now, he faces multiple felonies after his dogs attacked multiple public safety officers.

Alameda County is the same county where prosecutors charged the owner of three cane corso-Neapolitan mastiff mixes (combat dogs) with a felony after his dogs killed Robert Holguin in September. Brendan Burke was charged with a felony under the California statute for failing to secure his dogs resulting in death. At the time, Holguin was homeless and living out of his car on Burke's property, who was his friend. He died at the scene. Burke was also a backyard breeder of these dogs.

Criminal Charges

We don't see assault with a deadly weapon charge often because proving it requires video or a reliable witness. Many of these attacks only involve the dog owner, the dog(s) and the victim. In the cases we often write about, the victim died, so there is no witness to testify the owner "ordered" his dog to attack. We see deadly weapon charges the most when the dog attacks police officers. The evidence showing intent may be the officer's body-worn camera or an officer who was at the scene.

The deadly weapon charge escalates when it is carried out against a peace officer or firefighter. But in this case the charge regards a security officer. Of the 14 sentencing enhancements, six involve aggravating circumstances of the "crime involved great violence, great bodily harm" or the "defendant was armed with or used a weapon." The other charges fall under the state's felony dog attack law, which applies to attacks resulting in serious bodily injury or death. Both can result in a felony.

(4) “Serious bodily injury” means a serious impairment of physical condition, including, but not limited to, the following: loss of consciousness; concussion; bone fracture; protracted loss or impairment of function of any bodily member or organ; a wound requiring extensive suturing; and serious disfigurement.

Escalating Crimes

It's not unusual for repeat offenders of crimes like domestic violence, soliciting lewd acts and threats of violence to escalate to more serious ones.1 Though, one might not expect they would lead to felony dog attack or deadly weapon by dog charges (due to this area having limited research). The bite victims in this case are also public safety officers. If one is ordering his or her dogs to attack a security guard, what's next? And how vicious are these dogs if police could not even restrain them initially?

Lastly, the irritation with the deadly weapon charges is a presumption that Rivas trained his dogs to attack. Maybe he did. But the majority of dog owners cannot even teach the "Stay" command. There have been countless serious and fatal attacks involving pit bulls when the owner has a heated argument with a household member, and the dog suddenly launches a frenzied attack on whoever is closest to it, usually a family member. That's not training. That's a lightning speed arousal threshold.

1To what extent do lower-level offenders go on to Commit more serious crimes? A rapid review, by Thomas Moniz, Sigrún Clark and Cecilia Vindrola-Padros, Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL), July 2023.

Related articles:
09/05/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Owner Charged with Felony After His 'Mastiff Breeds' Kill Man
05/09/22: 2020 Dog Bite Fatality: Man Dies After Pit Bull Mauling; Owner Charged with Murder

2024 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs

Nonprofit Captured 65% of Breed Identification Images in 2024

2024 breed identification photographs
Photographs of six fatally attacking dogs in 2024 obtained from multiple sources.


Jump down to view all 2024 breed identification photographs or read our analysis first.


DogsBite.org - In 2013, we began the tradition of publishing breed identification photographs of fatally attacking dogs when available through news reports, animal control agencies, police departments, social media and public information requests. Of the 66 dog bite fatalities recorded in 2024, 56% (37) had some form of a breed identification photograph. Our nonprofit was responsible for capturing 65% of them. Pit bulls and their mixes represent 68% of the identification images collected in 2024.

Of the 37 cases with breed identification photographs, 57% (21) comprised images captured or republished by news media; 65% (24) comprised images located on social media pages of the dog's owner or family members; and 65% (24) comprised images that were the result of our research and otherwise may have gone unpublished. Police and animal control agencies released dog identification images after only 3 deaths, yet 76% of all deaths (50 of 66) involved dogs taken into quarantine.

(Percentages are higher than 100% due to a single death containing multiple dog images, each attributed to a different source, as well as images that fall into overlapping publishing categories.)

Identification Photographs (2013-2024)

From 2013 to 2024, images captured by our nonprofit have risen from 26% to 65%. Images captured by media have fallen from 79% to 57%.

breed identification photograph 2013-2024

Chart A shows 12 years of breed identification photographs collected from 2013 to 2024.


Media Gains Since Covid

Taking a closer look at the four Covid impact years (2020-2023), when media reports of fatal dog attacks declined, breed identification images captured by media averaged only 32%. Last year shows the first gain in media captures since the Covid years. From the 32% average between 2020 and 2023, media captured images rose to 57% in 2024, a 78% rise. While our nonprofit's capture rate rose during these same Covid impact years -- attaining a 78% average -- we fell to 65% in 2024, a 17% decrease.

Most media captures occur while they are on location of the fatal attack. They photograph images of the dogs being confiscated by authorities. In 2024, media was on location more frequently than during the Covid impact years. For instance, media rushed to the scene -- by air and by land -- after Dominic Cooper, 35, was killed by his pack of breeding pit bulls in California. Media were also on location after Pedro Ortega, 26, was killed by his three XL bullies on a children's playground in Mesa Viking Park.

2024 breed identification photographs DogsBite v media capture rate

Chart B shows the rising number of breed identification images captured by our nonprofit since 2013 and how media captured images declined during the Covid impact years to 32%.


Unreleased Breed Data 2024

Of the total recorded 66 dog bite fatalities in 2024, 10 cases lacked all breed information (15%). A FOIA by our nonprofit lowered that number to 9. Our research into the Facebook pages of the dog owners and victims -- providing details about the attack -- lowered that number to only 8 cases (12%) when full breed information was unknown. In 2022, the landscape was far worse, when 33% of all recorded fatal dog maulings lacked breed information until we brought forth multiple time-consuming FOIAs.

In 2024, 23% of deaths involved 1 or more dogs shot at the scene, which often diminishes the ability to collect breed identification images.

Characteristics of the 10 cases in 2024 where authorities did not release breed data include: 70% of victims are adults ≥ 35 years old; 100% involved non-family dogs (when known 9/9); 78% of the attacks occurred off the owner's property (when known 7/9); and 67% involved a pack of 4 or more dogs (when known 6/9). In the 2 cases where breed data was discovered, 1 involved a pit bull, and the other involved 3 different breeds: rottweiler-mix (2), German shepherd-mix (1) and chihuahua-mix (1).

Pack Attacks & Off Property Attacks

In 2024, pack attacks fell back to the pre-Covid level of 15%. In 2023, there was a sharp rise in pack attacks, comprising 29% of dog bite fatalities. Obtaining breed images in pack attacks can be challenging, but in 2024, images were captured for 70% (7/10). In 6 of those cases, 86%, media was on location capturing images, or republishing images shot by witnesses. In over half of those cases (4/6), the pack only involved a single dog breed, such as a pack of great danes or a pack of pit bulls.

In 2024, off-property attacks continued to be elevated and comprised 36% of dog bite fatalities -- a 44% rise from the pre-Covid years of 25%. But it is a decrease from 2023, when off-property attacks comprised 42% of deaths. Surprisingly, dog breed images in off-property attacks, which are also challenging to obtain, were captured in 71% (17/24) of cases. Again, this is largely due to media being on location more frequently. Of the 17 off-property attacks with images, media captured 71% (12).

2024 off-property attacks - DogsBite v media capture rate

Chart C shows how frequently media captures images of dogs in off-property attacks. Prior to Covid, media captured 45% of cases; that dropped to 21% during the Covid impact years.


Breed Misidentification Conflicts

Several breed identification conflicts arose in 2024. They began with the death of Beau Clark. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office identified the dog as a pit bull, then changed it to an "Olde English bulldogge," a close bull baiting breed relative. Morgan County Animal Shelter Director Darren Tucker, "whose department collected the dog’s body and sent off specimens for analysis, said the animal appeared to be a pit bull-mix weighing between 40 and 60 pounds," reported The Daily Decatur.

After a child was killed by a dog at Limestone Sphynx and LFD Great Danes, whose parents operate the kennel, the Ogle County Sheriff's Office said the dog involved was a "mixed-breed," even though the kennel only sold "AKC registered great danes" -- purebred dogs. After his death, the boy's parents published on the LFD Great Danes kennel's Facebook page, "Due to a loss in our immediate family we've decided that we will no longer be raising great danes." Few details were released by police.

When Brooklynn Park police stormed through a fence and shot two pit bulls attacking a child, they saw adults using "hammers and pickaxes to get the dogs off" the child, stated a search warrant. Several days later, while the child was in a coma on the verge of death, the parents fiercely stated, "THEY WERE BULLDOGS! NOT PIT BULLS."1 Police later clarified the dogs were American bullies of the "XL variety," a mixture of pit bull and American bulldog. Police noted "this breed is banned in the UK."

Bulldog, pit bulldog, American pit bulldog, pit dog, fighting bull terrier ... But "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." - William Shakespeare

Summary

In 2024, over half, 56%, of dog bite fatalities had some form of a breed identification photograph, a decrease from the 11-year average of 62% (2013-2023). Our nonprofit captured nearly two-thirds of them, 65%. Pit bulls and their mixes represent 68% of the identification images collected in 2024, also a decrease from the 11-year average of 73%. Breed identification images captured by media rose to 57% in 2024, up substantially from the Covid impact years (2020-2023) average of 32%.

In 2024, there was an increase of breed identification photographs captured in pack attacks and off-property attacks -- the most challenging images to obtain. Images were captured for 70% (7/10) pack attacks. In 6 of those cases, 86%, media was on location capturing images, or republishing images shot by witnesses. Breed images were captured for 71% (17/24) of off-property attacks, also due to media being on location. Of the 17 off-property attacks with images, media captured 71% (12).

Finally, of the total recorded 66 dog bite fatalities in 2024, 10 cases lacked all breed data (15%). Through our nonprofit's research and FOIAs, we lowered that number to 8 cases, 12%. Characteristics of cases where authorities did not release breed data include: 70% of victims are adults ≥ 35 years old; 100% involved non-family dogs (when known 9/9); most occurred off the owner's property, and most involved a pack of 4 or more dogs. Two of these pack attacks occurred on Indian reservations.

2024 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs

Reuben Pierce - Jacksonville, Arkansas

Photos of multiple recent pit bulls in the dog owner's home (social media & dogsbite.org)

Reuben Pierce - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Reuben Pierce, 70-years old, died three months after being mauled by pit bulls on October 30, 2023, in Jacksonville, Arkansas. His estate sued the owners, Kenneth Cash and Jennifer Swartz, for "wrongful death, negligence, battery" and punitive damages. A judge awarded the plaintiff $5 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages.

Leonora Hale - Chiefland, Florida

Photos of catahoula leopard dogs on victim’s facebook page (social media & dogsbite.org)

Leonora Hale - fatal catahoula attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Leonora Hale, 72-years old, was killed and her husband injured after being attacked by a catahoula leopard dog on January 30, 2024, in Chiefland, Florida. Police said the couple had bred catahoula leopard dogs for more than 25 years when one of the dogs turned on them. In 2021, the couple competed in a dog show with a catahoula named, "Hale's Doc Holiday."

Willie Mundine - Indianapolis, Indiana

Photos of 1 or both fatally attacking loose pit bulls (police/animal control & news media)

Willie Mundine - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Willie Mundine, 85-years old, was killed by two pit bulls on January 30, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. A police officer shot one dog to stop the attack. A week earlier, the same pit bulls attacked Mark Lowe and his dog "Dante." A day earlier, the pit bulls attacked Richard Hayes "just yards away" from where Mundine was attacked, leaving Hayes hospitalized.

Kenneth Pierson - Longview, Texas

Photos of 2 of 4 dogs, of unreleased breeds, seized from dog owner’s home (news media)

Kenneth Pierson - fatal dog attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Kenneth Pierson, 46-years old, was killed by multiple dogs on February 1, 2024, in Longview, Texas. Pierson was found deceased by his bicycle covered in dog bites. Martin Rodriguez, 56, was charged with felony dog attack resulting in death afterward. In 2021, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to felony dog attack resulting in serious bodily injury; the sentence was probated.

Harold Phillips - Detroit, Michigan

Photos of three pit bulls on dog owner's Facebook page (social media & dogsbite.org)

Harold Phillips - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Harold Phillips, 35-years old, died while hospitalized after being attacked by three pit bulls on January 29, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. Phillips had just exited a bus when the dogs got loose and attacked him. "The dogs bit a pretty big hole out of his arm and tore his artery, so he lost a lot of blood," his wife, Shauntaye Phillips, said. He died on February 2, 2024.

Dominic Cooper - Compton, California

Photos of 2 of 5 adult fatally attacking breeding pit bulls (news media)

Dominic Cooper - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Dominic Cooper, 35-years old, was killed by his pack of breeding pit bulls on February 16, 2024 in Compton, California. When Los Angeles County deputies arrived, they encountered 13 agitated pit bulls. Several were fighting near Cooper's body. A news chopper captured graphic images of his blood soaked body lying inside a kennel by overturned food bowls.

Brayden Heery - Milford, Connecticut

Photos of fatally attacking family husky, “Dakota” (social media & dogsbite.org)

Brayden Heery - fatal husky attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Brayden Heery 2-weeks old, was killed by a family dog on February 16, 2024 in Milford, Connecticut. The infant's family stated it was not "an attack" by the dog but a "tragic accident." The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner stated the baby died of blunt impact injury to his head. An official from the state's Child Fatality Review Panel confirmed the dog was a husky.

Child John Doe - Monroe Center, Illinois

Photos of great danes from the family’s breeding business (social media & dogsbite.org)

Child John Doe - fatal great dane attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Child John Doe, 4-years old, was fatally mauled by a dog at his home on February 29, 2024 in Monroe Center, Illinois. The next day, the boy's parents, who own Limestone Sphynx and LFD Great Danes in Monroe Center, published on the kennel's Facebook page, "Due to a loss in our immediate family we've decided that we will no longer be raising great danes."

Baby "Lennox" Doe - East Hartford, Connecticut

Photos of fatally attacking dalmatian-pit bull mixes (news media, social media & dogsbite.org)

Baby Lennox - fatal pit bull-mix attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Baby "Lennox" Doe, 1-year old, was killed by a family dog on March 13, 2024 in East Hartford, Connecticut. Police said, "the mother and the child were playing on a trampoline" when the dog attacked the baby. The baby's father described his dogs as "dalmatians mixed with pit." He said the primary aggressor, a male, had never shown aggression before.

Courtney Williams Cox - Brooks County, Georgia

Photos of 2 of 15 dogs, of unreleased breeds, seized from dog owner’s home (news media)

Courtney Williams Cox - fatal pack attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Courtney Cox, 35-years old, was killed and her son severely injured by a dog pack on May 9, 2024 in Quitman, Georgia. The attack occurred after Cox's three children exited a school bus. After arriving deputies determined that a private citizen had taken the children to a hospital, they found Cox dead from her injuries in the front yard of her home, near the bus stop.

Amaya Carmack - Greeneville, Tennessee

Photos of fatally attacking family husky “Damascus” (social media & dogsbite.org)

Amaya Carmack - fatal husky attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Amaya Carmack, 4-days old, was killed by a family dog on May 13, 2024 in Greeneville, Tennessee. A scanner report indicated the dog was a husky. Property records show the infant's paternal grandmother, who owns the home, owns "Damascus," a male husky. Locals said the husky had previously killed the next-door neighbor's rabbit and other small animals.

Adult John Doe - Farmington Hills, Michigan

Photos of fatally attacking family pit bull, "Homer" (social media & dogsbite.org)

Adult John Doe - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Adult John Doe, 40-years old, was killed by his own dog on May 18, 2024 in Farmington Hills, Michigan. A relative discovered his body and called 911. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death "K-9 mauling." Animal control took the dog, a pit bull-mix, into custody. The victim had owned a male pit bull-mix, "Homer," since 2017, according to his Facebook page.

Ezra Mansoor - Knoxville, Tennessee

Photos of fatally attacking family husky, "Mena" (news media, social media & dogsbite.org)

Ezra Mansoor - fatal husky attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Ezra Mansoor, 6-weeks old, died after being bitten on the head by a family husky on May 30, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee. "Ezra was just asleep in his crib -- not crying or anything. And she just attacked out of nowhere," her mother, Chloe Mansoor, said. The family had owned the female husky, "Mena," for eight years. The dog had never shown aggression before.

Adult Jane Doe - Los Angeles, California

Photos of fatally attacking family pit bull, "Ice" (dogsbite.org FOIA, news media & social media)

Adult Jane Doe - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Adult Jane Doe, 53-years old, was killed by her pit bull on May 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Records obtained from Los Angeles Animal Services state that "Ice," was "under quarantine for a Level 5 bite to the throat of the owner." LAAS updated the bite to Level 6 after being informed of her death. There were no mainstream media reports about this attack.

Willard Norton - Town Creek, Alabama

Photos of 1 of 2 fatally attacking pit bull-mixes (social media & dogsbite.org)

Willard Norton - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Willard Norton, 83-years old, was killed by his neighbor's two pit bulls on June 2, 2024 in Town Creek, Alabama. Norton was tending to his roses in his yard when the dogs attacked. The same dogs had killed Norton's dog last year. A day before the fatal attack, the dogs' owner tried to rehome her female pit bull, stating in part, "she can clear a 4 foot fence easily."

Toby Berkley - Snyder, Texas

Photos of two pit bulls on dog owner's Facebook page (social media & dogsbite.org)

Toby Berkley - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Toby Berkley, 40-years old, was killed by two pit bulls on June 27, 2024 in Snyder, Texas. Police found Berkley dead in the roadway. The dogs' owner, Marco Aguirre, made public statements afterward, including: "So yeah they are my dogs and I will take full responsibility for their actions but I will not take any responsibility for any foul play and actions my dogs did."

Theresa Rhodes - Bolivar, Tennessee

Photos of 1 of 2 fatally attacking at large pit bulls (police/animal control & news media)

Theresa Rhodes - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Theresa Rhodes, 61-years old, was killed by two pit bulls on July 1, 2024 in Bolivar, Tennessee. Police found Rhodes bleeding in the middle of the street. She had "extensive injuries sustained from a dog attack." Police shot at two dogs that were hovering nearby, causing them to flee. A photograph of one of the pit bulls was issued as an advisory until it was captured.

Jaxson Dvorak - Lorain, Ohio

Photos of two fatally attacking family dogs being seized by authorities (news media)

Jaxson Dvorak - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Jaxson Dvorak, 6-years old, was killed by one or both family dogs -- a pit bull, and a shepherd-mix -- on July 3, 2024 in Lorain, Ohio. Arriving officers were notified the boy was "pronounced dead from injuries sustained during the attack." The 911 caller told dispatch she got a call from her uncle who was watching her kids. He told her, "The dog ate his face."

Johnny Fontenot - Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Photo of fatally attacking family XL bully/pit bull-mix seen as puppy (social media & dogsbite.org)

Johnny Fontenot - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Johnny Fontenot, 41-years old, was killed by his own pit bull-mix, an XL bully, on July 3, 2024 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Arriving officers found Fontenot deceased laying in the driveway. Police determined he was attacked during the night. The dog had been neutered, as required by ordinance. Fontenot's wife purchased the dog from Nelson Bullies, LCC in 2022.

Adult John Doe - Houston, Texas

Photos of 2 of 4 fatally attacking at large dogs (dogsbite.org FOIA)

Adult John Doe - fatal pack attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Adult John Doe, 87-years old, was killed by four dogs on July 6, 2024 in Houston, Texas. A witness told police that between 8:00 and 9:00 am, he saw three dogs charging the victim, who was defending himself with his trash cans. When he drove by the victim's home about 2:00 pm, "he saw what looked like legs." There were no media reports about this attack.

Adult Jane Doe - Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

Photos of a pair of bullmastiffs on victim's Facebook page (social media & dogsbite.org)

Adult Jane Doe - fatal bullmastiff attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Adult Jane Doe, 62-years old, was killed by one of her bullmastiffs on July 11, 2024 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Deputies responded to a home on Highway 69 North, where they found a woman deceased inside of a dog pen. Police said the 911 caller shot and killed the large dog. The victim bred bullmastiffs and had at least one active breeding pair at the time.

Covil Allen - Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

Photos of one family pit bull on dog owner’s Facebook page (social media & dogsbite.org)

Covil Allen - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Covil Allen, 3-years old, was critically wounded, his mother injured by two pit bulls while trying to buy a puppy on July 19, 2024 in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Adults used "hammers and pickaxes" to get the dogs off him. Officers open fired on the dogs, killing one. Covil sustained a fractured skull, jaw, collarbone, vertebrae, and a punctured lung. He died on July 29.

Davina Corbin - Feather Falls, California

Photos of 2 of 25 dogs that were part of a fatally attacking great dane pack (news media)

Davina Corbin - fatal great dane attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Davina Corbin, 56-years old, was killed by a pack of great danes in Feather Falls, California on August 8, 2024. Deputies found her dead on Blackhawk Trail covered in "numerous bite marks and injuries." While executing a warrant on a nearby home, detectives located 25 great danes running loose. Deputies "spent the entire day" capturing the dogs.

Robert Holguin - Oakland, California

Photos of a cane corso-Neapolitan mastiff on owner’s property after the attack (news media)

Robert Holguin - fatal mastiff attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Robert Holguin, 53-years old, was killed by three cane corso-mastiff mixes on September 1, 2024 in Oakland, California. Holguin was living out of his car on Brendan Burke's property, the dogs' owner and a friend. The dogs mauled his legs, arms and head, and pinned him under a car, killing him. Burke was charged with one felony count for failing to secure his dogs.

Zoey Hawkins - Visalia, California

Photos of three family pit bulls on dog owner’s Facebook page (news media, social media & dogsbite.org)

Zoey Hawkins - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Zoey Hawkins, 4-years old, was killed by a family pit bull on September 4, 2024 in Visalia, California. Zoey was getting out of a kiddie pool when the male dog latched onto her armpit and shook. The parents had a dedicated Facebook page for "Tara," a female pit bull. Two other pit bulls and pit bull advocacy memes were also seen on the parents' pages.

Jiryiah Johnson - Converse, Texas

Photos of 2 of 3 fatally attacking XL bully/pit bull-mixes (news media, social media & dogsbite.org)

Jiryiah Johnson - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Jiryiah Johnson, 1-year old, was killed by papered XL bullies in Converse, Texas on October 7, 2024. The babysitter, who owned the dogs, had left Jiryiah with her 13-year old daughter. When the dogs started attacking the baby, the teenager barricaded a door "using her body" to protect the baby until help arrived. The babysitter was charged with three felonies.

Chevy Womack - Torrance, California

Photos of fatally attacking family pit bull-mastiff mix “Rambo” (social media & dogsbite.org)

Chevy Womack - fatal pit bull-mix attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Chevy Womack, 1- month old, was killed by a family pit bull-mastiff mix inside her home on October 8, 2024 in Torrance, California. Last Halloween, when the mother could not find the dog, she warned friends on Facebook, "Rambo can get aggressive if you have gloves, a helmet, or a mask on. I don't want him running around and mistakenly hurt anyone."

James Provost - Albany, New York

Photos of 2 of 9 adult pit bulls fatally attacking a man (news media & social media)

James Provost - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | James Provost, 60-years old, was killed by multiple pit bulls on October 9, 2024 in Albany, New York. Provost had been in a backyard adjacent to where the dogs were kept. The dogs got through the fence and attacked him. Witnesses filmed part of the attack on their cell phones. A news agency published a still frame of the video showing the man's body blacked out.

Jo Echelbarger - Ashville, Ohio

Photos of two fatally attacking pit bulls, "Apollo" and "Echo" (news media, social media & dogsbite.org)

Jo Echelbarger - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Jo Echelbarger, 73-years old, was killed by a pair of pit bulls with a history of aggression on October 17, 2024 in Ashville, Ohio. Echelbarger had been weeding a flower bed on her patio when the dogs attacked her, leaving her with a "hole in her neck." Police charged Adam Withers and his mother Susan Withers with one count of felony involuntary manslaughter.

Chris Culbertson - Kansas City, Missouri

Photos of 2 of 7 fatally attacking pit bulls captured on surveillance camera (news media)

Chris Culbertson - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Chris Culbertson, 46-years old, died on November 6, 2024 after sustaining life-threatening injuries by a pack of pit bulls in Kansas City. The 23 minute attack was captured on surveillance camera. Before dying, Culbertson told his sister, "They were trying to drag me like I was their dinner." Police had received over 15 complaints about the dogs prior to the attack.

Jeriline McGinnis - Boston, Massachusetts

Photos of family pit bulls "Deuce" and "Buddha" (news media, social media & dogsbite.org)

Jeriline Brady-McGinnis - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Jeriline McGinnis, 73-years old, died after being attacked by one of her four pit bulls on November 18, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. The dog also seriously injured her husband. Their landlord, civil rights leader Jean McGuire, described the couple as having "a pit bull family." She added that the McGinnis’ would breed the dogs and sell the pit bull puppies.

Caleb Brown - Jacksonville, North Carolina

Photos of 1 of 2 fatally attacking family pit bulls, "Xena" (social media & dogsbite.org)

Caleb Brown - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Caleb Brown, 8-years old, was fatally bitten in the neck by one or both family pit bulls on November 29, 2024, in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Investigators said the child and a sibling were letting the dogs out of the residence to use the bathroom when the attack occurred. Family members said the dogs had not show aggression prior to the deadly attack.

Amelia Yu - Covina, California

Photos of a family rottweiler and rottweiler-weimaraner mix seized (news media)

Amelia Yu - fatal rottweiler attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Amelia Yu, 5-years old, was killed by multiple dogs she had grown up with on December 8, 2024 in Covina, California. The child was in the backyard with her father when she fell. The three dogs -- a rottweiler, a rottweiler-weimaraner mix, both male, and a female Doberman -- immediately began attacking her. She sustained fatal injuries to her torso and head.

Pedro Ortega - San Diego, California

Photos of 1 of 3 fatally attacking family XL bully/pit bull-mixes (news media)

Pedro Ortega - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Pedro Ortega, 26-years old, was killed by his three XL bullies in front of his son on a children's playground in Mesa Viking Park on December 13, 2024 in San Diego. A neighbor's surveillance camera captured one bloodsoaked dog with a taser dart sticking out of its neck. Another neighbor captured photos of the same dog as it was removed from a vehicle.

Hector Pierna - Beaumont, Texas

Photos of two fatally attacking pit bull-mixes after being seized (animal control & news media)

Hector Pierna - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Hector Pierna, 78-years old, was mauled to death by a pair of loose pit bulls while walking home on December 16, 2024 in Beaumont, Texas. Police found Pierna critically injured, suffering from dog bites. He was taken to a hospital where he died. Pierna was attacked just two houses away from his own. Authorities captured both pit bulls; no owner was located.

Samara Rogers - Augusta, Georgia

Photos of two fatally attacking pit bull-mixes being seized by authorities (news media & social media)

Samara Rogers - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Samara Rogers, 21-years old, was killed by two pit bull-mixes while walking on December 18, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. She sustained severe bite wounds to the face and torso and died at the scene. News footage shows officers removing two large pit bull-mixes from the owner's home, Charles David Blackwell, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Kingsley Wright - Cincinnati, Ohio

Photos of two pit bull-mixes on the biological father's Facebook page (social media & dogsbite.org)

Kingsley Wright - fatal pit bull attack, 2024 breed identification photograph

See: Full blog post | Kingsley Wright, 3-years old, was brutally killed by two pit bull-mixes on December 27, 2024 in the Roselawn neighborhood of Cincinnati. At the time, she had been staying the night with her biological father for the first time. Her father told 911 that he awoke about 7:50 am, walked into the living room, found blood all over and his daughter dead on the floor.

How We Track Photograph Sources

We track the identification photograph's original source. There may be multiple images of a dog thus, multiple sources may be attributed to a single attack. We also track where the image was published. For instance, after Jiryiah Johnson's death, media captured all three dogs being seized by authorities from multiple angles. We obtained images of the dogs from the owner's and co-owner's social media pages. Thus, the photographs were sourced to news media, social media, and DogsBite.org.

What is simpler to measure in our tracking and analysis is the rising number of breed identification photographs located on the dog owner's or family member's social media pages, from only 16% of all collected images in 2013 to 65% in 2024, a 306% rise. It is also easy to see the small number of images provided by law enforcement even though most dogs after a fatal attack are held alive in quarantine. Police released identification images after 3 deaths this year, 8% of cases with images.

Photograph Tracking Categories

  • DogsBite.org published only; no news media republished the photograph
  • U.S. news media supplied original photograph and/or republished photograph
  • Social media website supplied breed identification photograph
  • Law enforcement or animal control department supplied photograph
  • Canines shot to death at the scene of a fatal dog attack
  • Canines held in a quarantine facility after a fatal dog attack
2024 breed identification photographs from six pack attacks

Breed identification photographs from six pack attacks in 2024 when media was on location.


1Breeders of fighting dogs call them "bulldogs" without any other specification. The name in those circles means performance bred. For instance, "A 100% bulldog." Whereas American bulldogs are typically shortened to "Ambulls." But the mother wrote: "THEY WERE BULLDOGS! NOT PIT BULLS." Otherwise, "bulldog" used alone usually refers to the English bulldog, like the Georgia Bulldogs football team. But even that mascot was rooted in a "solid white bull terrier" at the turn of the 19th Century, whose breed was synonymous with the "fighting bull terrier" and "bull and terrier" and more. The irony is that the parents claimed there was some distinction between a BULLDOG and a PIT BULL. Even the American bulldog was previously named the "American pit bulldog" because it also evolved from bull baiting and "pit fighting." Police later identified the dogs as American bullies of the "XL variety," a mixture of pit bull and American bulldog. That's a lot of ink to spill over the "NOT PIT BULLS" claim, given that police stormed in and saw adults using "hammers and pickaxes to get the dogs off" the child. Because "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Related articles:
01/30/24: 2023 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs - DogsBite.org
01/20/23: 2022 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs - DogsBite.org
01/12/22: 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs - DogsBite.org
01/12/21: 2020 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs - DogsBite.org
08/31/15: Who Can Identify a Pit Bull? A Dog Owner of 'Ordinary Intelligence'...


Baseline reporting requirements:
Law enforcement departments across the United States should release consistent "baseline" information to the media and the public after each fatal dog mauling, including these items.

2024 Suspected Dog Bite Fatality: Elderly Woman Killed by Multiple Dogs in Milam County, Texas; Few Details Released

killed by dogs milam county
Delores Woolverton, 88, was allegedly killed by multiple dogs in Milam County.

Woman Found Dead
Cameron, TX - On December 19, 2024, the Milam County Sheriff's Office issued a release about an elderly woman found dead on December 18. At approximately 1:00 pm, deputies responded to a residence in the 500 block of Beverly Drive and discovered her body. An autopsy was ordered to determine her cause of death. The Rockdale Reporter identified the victim as 88-year old Delores Woolverton. The alleged dog attack occurred in Woolverton's yard. No other details were released.

Beverly Drive Death Investigation
December 19, 2024

(CAMERON) The cause of death for a Rockdale woman is under investigation.
The Milam County Sheriff’s Office responded about 1PM Wednesday, December 18th, to a home on Beverly Drive, just outside the city limits of Rockdale, in reference to a deceased female. This investigation is active and open. An autopsy has been ordered to determine cause of death. Several dogs located on the property have been removed and secured out of an abundance of caution. No further information will be released until the investigation is complete. - Milam County Sheriff's Office

A local who commented on the sheriff's post, Cari, wrote, "They were not her dogs." In response to the question, "So the dogs did something?" Cari replied, "Yes, they killed her." Cari also wrote, "There were several dogs, all owned by the same person." The dogs were allegedly running loose at the time. Milam County is where the Texas felony dog attack statute "Lillian's Law" came from. In 2005, Lillian Stiles was mowing her lawn when she was fatally mauled by six loose pit bull-rottweiler mixes.

The felony "loose dog" law was enacted in September 2007. It is a second-degree felony if an owner fails to secure the dog and it fatally attacks a person outside of the owner's property. It was first tested in 2008 after four pit bulls killed 7-year old Tanner Monk in Breckenridge. The owners, Crystal Watson and Jack Wayne Smith, were found guilty by a jury after deliberating for less than one hour. Each were sentenced to 7-years in prison. In 2011, the 11th Court of Appeals upheld the verdict of the jury.

Autopsy Ordered in Woman's Death
December 26, 2024

An autopsy has been ordered by the Milam County Sheriff's Office in the death of an elderly Rockdale woman last Wednesday who was allegedly attacked by dogs while in her yard on Beverly Drive.

The autopsy was ordered to determine the exact cause of death, said Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer, Brett Eberhart. He said more details will be released after the investigation.

Authorities had not released the woman's name by The Reporter's early deadline, but friends of the victim told The Reporter that it was Delores Woolverton, who was in her late 80s.

Several dogs located at the scene "have been removed and secured out of an abundance of caution," Eberhart confirmed. - The Rockdale Reporter

Part of the urgency of the Texas legislature in passing Lillian’s Law is that a jury acquitted the owner of the dogs that killed Stiles several months earlier. At that time, there were no state laws that specifically addressed canine-inflicted homicides. Jose Hernandez, 55, was charged with criminally negligent homicide, but prosecutors could not prove that Hernandez had previous knowledge of his dogs' vicious propensities. Thus, Hernandez walked out of the Milam County courtroom a free man.

Woolverton worked at the local nursing homes in Rockdale for over 35 years as a Medication Assistant and taking care of elderly people, according to her obituary. She was well known for "finding every garage sale and thrift store" she could. She met a lot of people over the years that knew she collected her “treasures” as she called them. She had many friends in the community. She leaves behind multiple children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also had one great-great grandchild.

Alleged Large Dog Pack

Another commenter, Darren, responded to a post on the Rockdale TX Residents NEED to KNOW Facebook group. The post asked if anyone had information about the "mauling of Rockdale resident Delores Woolverton." Darren stated, "10 dogs killed a woman! That is all the detail that you need!" Like many rural and urban areas in the U.S. since the onset of Covid, reports of stray and roaming dogs have escalated. There were two reports about the rising number of stray dogs in Rockdale in 2024.

Multiple Unconfirmed Cases

We have multiple pending FOIAs for fatal dog maulings in 2024, including the death of Rogelio Garza, 59, in Hidalgo County, Texas last January. There was no cause of death released after the death of Ronald Coffman, 59, in Jacksonville, Florida in September, a man in Durham, North Carolina in September, a homeless man in San Bernardino, California in November, the death of Jamillah Price, 51, in Philadelphia in November, and the death of Velma Leake, 92, in Rochester, New York in December.


killed by dogs milam county

Delores Woolverton, 88, was allegedly killed by dogs in Milam County, Texas in December.

killed by dogs milam county

One local resident stated that a pack of 10 dogs killed the elderly Rockdale woman.

Related articles:
12/016/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: East Texas Man Mauled, Killed by Two Pit Bulls in Beaumont
07/08/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Man Killed by Dog Pack on Corsair Road in Southwest Houston


Baseline reporting requirements:
Law enforcement departments across the United States should release consistent "baseline" information to the media and the public after each fatal dog mauling, including these items.