Man Dies of Injuries
Murrieta, CA - Back in October, a 67-year old man was horribly mauled by his nephew's pit bull in the backyard of the family's home. At the time, authorities did not release his name. The Press-Enterprise described the incident as the dog "biting his arm and mauling his throat and groin." The victim was left in critical condition. According to the Riverside County coroner's office, Edward Mitchell died Sunday, due to complications from injuries he sustained in the dog attack.
The Enterprise described the animal as a 1.5-year old male, unaltered pit bull named Shadow. Officers had to subdue the animal by firing two shots from a tranquilizer dart gun. Officers of Animal Friends of the Valleys, which provides animal control services for Murrieta, "found blood and flesh all over the patio" at the attack site. Mitchell died nearly two months later at his home along the 24400 block of Tuscola Circle. The attack happened Oct. 14 at the same address.
MURRIETA: Pit bull victim critically injuredA 65-year-old man was in critical condition Friday, a day after he was mauled by his nephew's pit bull in the backyard of the family's Murrieta home, authorities said.
The man was alone with the pit bull, named Shadow, and two chihuahuas at the home in the 24400 block of Tuscola Circle late Thursday afternoon, said Monique Middleton, a supervisor with Animal Friends of the Valleys, which provides animal control services for Murrieta.
Murrieta police Lt. Dennis Vrooman said the man was in the backyard disciplining the dog when it turned on him, biting his arm and mauling his throat and groin. - Sarah Burge, October 15, 2010, pe.com
Man dies from pit bull attack injuriesA 67-year-old Murrieta man died this weekend of complications from injuries he suffered nearly two months ago when he was attacked by the family's pit bull, according to Riverside County coroner's officials.
Edward Mitchell died at 11:11 p.m. Sunday at his home along the 24400 block of Tuscola Circle. The attack happened Oct. 14 at the same address.
Mitchell was mauled by his nephew's dog in the backyard, authorities said soon after the attack.The victim was alone with a pit bull named Shadow and two Chihuahuas, animal control investigators said.
Mitchell had been disciplining the pit bull when it turned on him, biting his arm and mauling his throat and groin, police Lt. Dennis Vrooman said after the preliminary investigation. - Richard Brooks, December 8, 2010, pe.com
View the DogsBite.org Google Map: California Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.Related articles:
11/17/10: 2010 Fatality: Moreno Valley Woman Killed by Neighbor's Two Dogs
12/20/08: 2008 Fatality: 2 Pit Bulls Attack, Kill 60-Year-Old Rubidoux Man
The big question is
WHERE DID THIS DOG COME FROM?
This is a vital piece of information in the investigation.
Did this dog have a previous attack history? Was it purchased from a dog fighter breeding and selling dangerous dogs? Did a rescue or shelter adopt out a dangerous dog?
If so, there are more deaths waiting to happen.
In any case of sudden death, there is a complete investigation.
The investigation is not complete without finding out the source of this dog.
Riverside County has a nasty pit bull problem and the Riverside County Animal Control Director, Robert Miller, is a not-so-closet No-Killer. It's unclear what actions Murrieta animal control will take, they're still suffering from the genital mauling (charges were dismissed against the mother)
"The judge did not allow testimony from police about child protective services having removed McKinney's two older children from her custody within a week before the dog attack."