2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Colusa Woman Mauled to Death by Pet Pit Bull-Mix

Linda Leal, 51-years old, was mauled to death by her pit bull-mix.

Alive During Mauling
UPDATE 01/05/11: The Colusa County Coroner's Office reported that the victim was alive during the mauling. The time of death has not been determined and the cause of death is pending toxicology tests. Sheriff's Lt. Shane Maxey said the toxicology tests are needed "to make sure she didn't have something in her system that put her in that position." But it is unclear what position Maxey means. A healthy adult man may have been defenseless in the same position.

Maxey said the toxicology tests are necessary "to make sure she didn't have something in her system that put her in that position."

Interim Colusa police Chief Ross Stark said there was no indication of a struggle at the scene.

"We have no indication of foul play," said Stark, adding that the police investigation would be wrapped up soon, and the matter turned over completely to the Coroner's Office. - Tri-County Newspapers

01/05/11: Autopsy Expected Today
Colusa, CA - In a developing story, a 51-year old woman appears to have been mauled to death by her pit bull-mix, Toby. Linda Leal Castillo was found dead by her husband in the backyard of their home Tuesday morning. Emergency responders found the victim with extensive head and neck trauma consistent with a dog attack. Despite this, neighbors want to believe that the dog did not attack Leal, but tried to "drag her to the house in safety" after she fell or was injured.1

Neighbors said Leal was very close to her white, pit bull mix, named Toby. Another dog the couple kept was confined to a pen in the backyard.

"We never had any problems with them, especially with the kids around, never, ever," said Lupe Diaz, whose parents live next door...

Neighbors said they did not hear any sign of a struggle and that they could not imagine Leal being hurt by her own dog.

"She fell outside or something and the dog, since they were really, really close, the dog probably tried to drag her back in or let the guy know that she was outside in danger," speculated Diaz. - News10/KXTV

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: California Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

1Extensive head and neck trauma is nearly always fatal and an unlikely area for a dog to grab hold of for the purposes of dragging a person to safety.

7 thoughts on “2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Colusa Woman Mauled to Death by Pet Pit Bull-Mix”

The most fascinating quote to me is, "We NEVER had a problem with this dog. Even with kids running around."

How many times have you heard that, folks?

Merritt Clifton, "If a pit bull terrier…has a bad moment, often someone is maimed or killed–and that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk, for which the dogs as well as their victims are paying the price."

"She has some trauma to her neck. It kind of looks like she was mauled by a dog," said interim Colusa Police Chief Ross Stark. He said the Leals had two dogs, but the one with a history of violent behavior was penned up."
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http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/colusa-102798-woman-own.html

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=115667&catid=2

Neighbors are convinced that the dog was only trying to help its already injured owner because the victim was so close to her dogs. Liver cancer is nothing to sneeze at, MAYBE this was a case of assisted suicide?

Unlike the case of Carolyn Baker — whose family pleaded to have the dog returned to them after it "dragged" her by the shoulder causing severe injury and swallowing her bra in the process — Mr. Leal immediately put this animal down. However, he may have done so because the dog inflicted horrible facial injuries…before or after her death, yadda, yadda…

Oh, the horror of being eaten alive, and by one's own pet! That strikes the most primeval fear into my heart.

"Neighbors want to believe that the dog did not attack Leal, but tried to 'drag her to the house in safety' after she fell or was injured."

I burst out in laughter at the nutters' ignorance after reading that part. They'll say anything to protect their inherently vicious dogs. But at the same time, it makes me sad that people actually do make outrageous claims just to keep the maulers around to kill more people. It also makes me scared that any one of us could be next if we happen to be in the same general area as a pit bull. If the nutter neighbor's pit bull kills me, what are the rabid advocates going to say after my death? Actually, I'm not sure I want to think about that.

Truly tragic. It shows how dangerous these dogs and their misinformed (or ignorant) owners can be.

Most of these people know exactly what they have, thats why they have them.

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Don B. on January 5, 2011 at 8:11 pm said:

The most fascinating quote to me is, "We NEVER had a problem with this dog. Even with kids running around."

How many times have you heard that, folks?

Merritt Clifton, "If a pit bull terrier…has a bad moment, often someone is maimed or killed–and that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk, for which the dogs as well as their victims are paying the price."
truthbird on January 5, 2011 at 5:18 pm said:

"She has some trauma to her neck. It kind of looks like she was mauled by a dog," said interim Colusa Police Chief Ross Stark. He said the Leals had two dogs, but the one with a history of violent behavior was penned up."
—
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/colusa-102798-woman-own.html
Bagheera Kiplingi on January 5, 2011 at 6:09 pm said:

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=115667&catid=2

Neighbors are convinced that the dog was only trying to help its already injured owner because the victim was so close to her dogs. Liver cancer is nothing to sneeze at, MAYBE this was a case of assisted suicide?
maultalk on January 6, 2011 at 12:46 am said:

Unlike the case of Carolyn Baker — whose family pleaded to have the dog returned to them after it "dragged" her by the shoulder causing severe injury and swallowing her bra in the process — Mr. Leal immediately put this animal down. However, he may have done so because the dog inflicted horrible facial injuries…before or after her death, yadda, yadda…
Opalina on January 7, 2011 at 10:06 pm said:

Oh, the horror of being eaten alive, and by one's own pet! That strikes the most primeval fear into my heart.
Anneliese on January 11, 2011 at 6:07 am said:

"Neighbors want to believe that the dog did not attack Leal, but tried to 'drag her to the house in safety' after she fell or was injured."

I burst out in laughter at the nutters' ignorance after reading that part. They'll say anything to protect their inherently vicious dogs. But at the same time, it makes me sad that people actually do make outrageous claims just to keep the maulers around to kill more people. It also makes me scared that any one of us could be next if we happen to be in the same general area as a pit bull. If the nutter neighbor's pit bull kills me, what are the rabid advocates going to say after my death? Actually, I'm not sure I want to think about that.

Truly tragic. It shows how dangerous these dogs and their misinformed (or ignorant) owners can be.
David on January 11, 2011 at 12:31 pm said:

Most of these people know exactly what they have, thats why they have them.