2019 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Killed by Family Pit Bulls in Bay City, Michigan

Brandy Boschen-O'Dell, 41, was killed by one or more pit bulls in Bay City, Michigan.

Boyfriend's Dogs
UPDATE 11/12/19: On November 1, the Bay City Department of Public Safety reported they were dispatched to a residence in the 3200 block of Westshore Drive. On their arrival, they found a 41-year old woman deceased. An autopsy determined her death was caused "from several bites made by one or more dogs that were pets." Two pit bull-type dogs were removed from the home. One media outlet was at the scene and noted a fight breaking out among family members.

Three days later, police identified the victim as Brandy Joy O'Dell. Also on November 4, Craig Goulet, supervisor of Bay County Animal Services and Adoption Center, confirmed that both dogs were pit bulls. On November 5, it was reported that a third dog was briefly seized and later returned, a chihuahua. It was also reported that it was O'Dell's "live-in boyfriend" who called 911 after returning home and finding her, Bay City Public Safety Capt. Caleb Rowell said.

Multiple headlines stated that O'Dell was killed "by her dogs." But on November 5, it was reported O'Dell had been "alone with the dogs for less than one day" prior to the lethal attack, indicating a new situation. Many of O'Dell's family members own pit bulls and O'Dell had owned them in the past. O'Dell's live-in boyfriend, who is mentioned in her obituary as a "very special friend and companion," owns two pit bulls and a chihuahua and lives in the 3200 block of Westshore Drive.

The two pit bulls, Chester and Rocket, are males. Chester is at least five years old; Rocky is only about two years old. O'Dell's mother, Cindy Lamb, commented on the Bay City Department of Public Safety's Facebook post: "I'm the mother and found her, you didn't see what I did." She "loved her dogs" and had three, but "only one did this, the older one, maybe because he's older." Lamb also states on the post, "dog is down." We assume this means Chester was put down.

On November 15, MLive.com confirmed the dog details from records obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request. Investigators believe that only Chester carried out the fatal attack. The dog's owner, her live-in boyfriend, said she had "no problems handling the dog." The boyfriend also told police that O'Dell told him that Chester had previously bitten her, but she told other people the injury was from a box cutter. Both Chester and Rocket are scheduled to be euthanized.

Two male pit bulls, Chester and Rocket, seen on O'Dell's live-in boyfriend's Facebook page.

11/05/19: Ownership Questions Remain
New information released by police states the attacking dogs had been alone with the victim for less than one day. On November 1, Brandy O'Dell, 41-years old, was discovered dead in her home after being mauled by one or more pit bulls. O'Dell's live-in boyfriend found her body and called 911. "The boyfriend had put [the dogs] in crates before police arrived," Bay City Public Safety Capt. Caleb Rowell told MLive.com. Animal control removed them without difficulty.

Police still have not determined if one or both pit bulls were involved. Police did not explain the short time period or who in fact owns the dogs.

"We're still trying to gather some information," Rowell told MLive.com. "We're trying to find out if there is any history of the dogs biting or attacking anybody else to see if (the owners) should have known the dogs were vicious and if anything could have been done to prevent it," Rowell said. "We're interviewing family, neighbors, and friends to see if they know anything about the dogs, if they bit any people in the past." Notably, the title of the article states: "killed by her dogs."

11/04/19: Pit Bulls Kill Female Owner
Bay City, MI - A 41-year old woman died Friday after being attacked by her pit bulls. Officers from the Bay City Department of Public Safety were dispatched to a residence in the 3200 block of Westshore Drive in the Westshore Estates Mobile Home Park at 2:55 pm Friday. Brandy Joy O'Dell was discovered deceased inside the home. The Bay County Medical Examiner's office determined her death "was caused from several bites made by one or more dogs that were pets."

Two "pit bull-type dogs were removed from the victim's home and taken to animal control," stated Bay City Department of Public Safety on their Facebook page. Craig Goulet, supervisor of Bay County Animal Services and Adoption Center, confirmed that both dogs are pit bulls, reports MLive.com. The dogs are currently in bite quarantine. Images from O'Dell and her husband's Facebook pages show a black pit bull and a white pit bull. O'Dell's daughter owns pit bulls too.

The NBC 25/FOX 66 news coverage shows family members crying at the scene Friday afternoon and a fight breaking out among family members. One person is handcuffed by police in front of a police cruiser. Police said Friday the situation was not "cut and dry" then hauled away two pit bulls that were inside the home. The victim was identified Monday after an autopsy was performed over the weekend. It is not known whether one or both pit bulls were involved in the deadly attack.

Owner-Directed Fatal Attacks

O'Dell's fatal dog mauling marks another female 30 to 49-years old killed by her own pit bulls. So far in 2019, there have been 7 owner-directed fatal attacks. The age range of these owners is 31 to 67-years old and 6 of these victims, 86%, were female. 4 of the 7 attacks, 57%, were carried out by pet pit bulls. Last month, we released new statistics to better understand fatal pit bull attack victim trends. Women ≥ 30-years old are now the most frequent victim of fatal pit bull maulings.

States Dominating Fatalities

O'Dell's fatal dog mauling marks the third dog bite fatality in Michigan this year, each occurring between August 19 and November 1. These deaths include: Benjamin Cobb, 4-years old (Hazel Park); Emma Hernandez, 9-years old (Detroit) and now Brandy O'Dell, 41-years old (Bay City). California and Texas, however, dominate U.S. fatalities with 8 and 6 deaths respectively so far this year. Kentucky follows with 4 deaths and Florida, Michigan and Tennessee each with 3 deaths.

View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: Michigan Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

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.

11 thoughts on “2019 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Killed by Family Pit Bulls in Bay City, Michigan”

All I can do upon reading this is just sigh and shake my head. Praying that all those who hear of this story will have their eyes opened to the truth.

I am constantly amazed that people force dangerous animals upon self and other people. I operate a church property that is being used for multiple daily meetings, and I interact with over a hundred people every day, and my acquaintances, friends and family are constantly amazed that this issue, of dangerous so-called “domesticated” dogs, is my constant, unceasing main topic of conversation.
There are warning labels on five-gallon buckets and plastic wrap, but no warnings are provided/heeded as to the real risk of the severe threat of dangerous [i]un-tamed[/i] animals in our homes, in our streets, and in most all places of business. Only a very small percentage of the American population is in a position to be not at risk of instant, anytime, unpredictable severe or fatal mauling when on private property or out in public.

I my opinion, the darker one looks like a pit-cattle dog type mix. Two breeds with high prey drives, high reactivity levels and great stamina. The second looks more bulldog(maybe pit?) And Catahoula type. Again, high prey drive, reactive breeds. Sometimes seems like people are trying to breed the worse traits they can. These two are NOT pure bred any breed, but are killers. While my heart does go out to the family, I hope the daughter reconsiders her choice of pet.

I can’t imagine what this family was fighting about outside that resulted in one of them being arrested…but I have to wonder it there was an anti-pit family member who said, “I told you so.” and the pro-pit family members erupted in pro-pit fashion. Maybe some of the pro-pit people who expressing more grief about what would happen to the beloved pits and another family member lashed out at them for caring more for the dogs than the deceased. Maybe, the dogs had been showing aggression and one family member had been pushing for them to be put down and another one convinced the couple not to do that and here is the result.

Concerning her death, I am just relieved that this did not happen to a neighbor, a child, or an elderly person and instead happened to the owner.

Mama Bear on November 5, 2019 at 10:59 am said:

My thoughts, exactly.

https://abc11.com/pets-animals/woman-mauled-to-death-by-dogs-she-rescued-police-say/5673314/

Whoops, forgot to link it.

Richard Buffalin on November 5, 2019 at 2:50 pm said:

Another news outlet reports additional pertinent details: “…The responding officer noted that there was a significant amount of blood in the home, including on door frames, the washer and dryer and the walls leading to the bathroom where Matthews was found. … …According to Matthews’ husband, Dale Matthews, one of the dogs was known to be “vicious” and had attacked him and several other people on previous occasions. He told police that he was able to fend off the dogs, but his wife would likely not be able to because of her “small stature. … … Chief Coroner Doyle Burke made a preliminary ruling that Matthews appeared to die after being attacked by the two animals. …”

https://www.foxnews.com/us/ohio-woman-mulled-dogs-police-bloody-scene

Owner had a few seizures? Owner had a few beers? Any other excuses? Any other breeds besides pit bulls?

I was not denying the pit in them, only that they clearly are not labs. No offense meant. And I am seeing many cross bred pits with anything, never seems to mellow the pit, only intensifies the bad. Interested in pics of the two “Danes” in the other fatality Friday

So, her own mother is defending at least one pitbull. How could you, as a mother, lose a child in such a violent and unnecessary way, and then try to rationalize it? “The dog was old…” Okay, lots of dogs grow old and die of old age without killing anything. I bet her child didn’t still love the dogs as they were mauling her to death, unless she was as irrational as her mother.

So, pitbulls kill their friend/family member, and even after the gory, bloody scene, those loved ones do not denounce the dogs? Must be because he (the dog) was old? Really? Or she fell…or sneezed…or it rained…or…

Cathy C on November 21, 2019 at 4:29 pm said:

The offending dog was five. That isn’t old. Maybe for a great Dane but not a pittie. I dog sit for friends. I know now there are several breeds I would not sit with. I can’t even imagine what these victims go through. One can only hope that death was quick and happened first thing. I’m mind blown that people make excuses and defend these dogs.

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Sellis on November 4, 2019 at 9:22 pm said:

All I can do upon reading this is just sigh and shake my head. Praying that all those who hear of this story will have their eyes opened to the truth.
Richard Buffalin on November 4, 2019 at 9:30 pm said:

I am constantly amazed that people force dangerous animals upon self and other people. I operate a church property that is being used for multiple daily meetings, and I interact with over a hundred people every day, and my acquaintances, friends and family are constantly amazed that this issue, of dangerous so-called “domesticated” dogs, is my constant, unceasing main topic of conversation.
There are warning labels on five-gallon buckets and plastic wrap, but no warnings are provided/heeded as to the real risk of the severe threat of dangerous [i]un-tamed[/i] animals in our homes, in our streets, and in most all places of business. Only a very small percentage of the American population is in a position to be not at risk of instant, anytime, unpredictable severe or fatal mauling when on private property or out in public.
Dixie on November 5, 2019 at 6:31 am said:

I my opinion, the darker one looks like a pit-cattle dog type mix. Two breeds with high prey drives, high reactivity levels and great stamina. The second looks more bulldog(maybe pit?) And Catahoula type. Again, high prey drive, reactive breeds. Sometimes seems like people are trying to breed the worse traits they can. These two are NOT pure bred any breed, but are killers. While my heart does go out to the family, I hope the daughter reconsiders her choice of pet.
Christy on November 5, 2019 at 9:48 am said:

I can’t imagine what this family was fighting about outside that resulted in one of them being arrested…but I have to wonder it there was an anti-pit family member who said, “I told you so.” and the pro-pit family members erupted in pro-pit fashion. Maybe some of the pro-pit people who expressing more grief about what would happen to the beloved pits and another family member lashed out at them for caring more for the dogs than the deceased. Maybe, the dogs had been showing aggression and one family member had been pushing for them to be put down and another one convinced the couple not to do that and here is the result.

Concerning her death, I am just relieved that this did not happen to a neighbor, a child, or an elderly person and instead happened to the owner.
- Mama Bear on November 5, 2019 at 10:59 am said:
  
  My thoughts, exactly.
Mama Bear on November 5, 2019 at 11:01 am said:

https://abc11.com/pets-animals/woman-mauled-to-death-by-dogs-she-rescued-police-say/5673314/

Whoops, forgot to link it.
- Richard Buffalin on November 5, 2019 at 2:50 pm said:
  
  Another news outlet reports additional pertinent details: “…The responding officer noted that there was a significant amount of blood in the home, including on door frames, the washer and dryer and the walls leading to the bathroom where Matthews was found. … …According to Matthews’ husband, Dale Matthews, one of the dogs was known to be “vicious” and had attacked him and several other people on previous occasions. He told police that he was able to fend off the dogs, but his wife would likely not be able to because of her “small stature. … … Chief Coroner Doyle Burke made a preliminary ruling that Matthews appeared to die after being attacked by the two animals. …”
  
  https://www.foxnews.com/us/ohio-woman-mulled-dogs-police-bloody-scene
  
  Owner had a few seizures? Owner had a few beers? Any other excuses? Any other breeds besides pit bulls?
Dixie on November 5, 2019 at 11:13 am said:

I was not denying the pit in them, only that they clearly are not labs. No offense meant. And I am seeing many cross bred pits with anything, never seems to mellow the pit, only intensifies the bad. Interested in pics of the two “Danes” in the other fatality Friday
Mama Bear on November 12, 2019 at 9:57 pm said:

So, her own mother is defending at least one pitbull. How could you, as a mother, lose a child in such a violent and unnecessary way, and then try to rationalize it? “The dog was old…” Okay, lots of dogs grow old and die of old age without killing anything. I bet her child didn’t still love the dogs as they were mauling her to death, unless she was as irrational as her mother.
Dixie on November 14, 2019 at 7:00 am said:

So, pitbulls kill their friend/family member, and even after the gory, bloody scene, those loved ones do not denounce the dogs? Must be because he (the dog) was old? Really? Or she fell…or sneezed…or it rained…or…
- Cathy C on November 21, 2019 at 4:29 pm said:
  
  The offending dog was five. That isn’t old. Maybe for a great Dane but not a pittie. I dog sit for friends. I know now there are several breeds I would not sit with. I can’t even imagine what these victims go through. One can only hope that death was quick and happened first thing. I’m mind blown that people make excuses and defend these dogs.