Billene "Billi" Cameron, 65, died after a vicious attack by two pit bulls in Kennewick.
Woman Dies After Mauling
Kennewick, WA - A 65-year old woman is dead after being mauled by two pit bulls that entered her home. The attack occurred on Wednesday, September 20, at about 2:00 pm at her residence in the 6600 hundred block of West Victoria Avenue. The Benton County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and arrived in time to pull the dogs off her, reports the Tri-City Herald. She died on September 21 due to complications related to surgery at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richmond.
Audio dispatch log files from Tri-Cities Police and Fire located on Broadcastify.com state one of the dogs was outside while medical responders were en route. The "aggressive dog is still outside the residence," the dispatcher states. The victim's bleeding was not controlled, apparently. "It was mentioned trying to put on a tourniquet," the dispatcher states. "Significant bites to the legs and bleeding," the dispatcher states seconds later. By that point, a deputy was on the scene.
The victim, Billene "Billi" Cameron, and her husband, Dwayne Woodard, own a popular business. They and their son, Jackson, established Woody’s BullPen Bar & Grille, a sports bar on the westside of Kennewick. Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Horacio Gonzalez said the dogs' owner has been identified. The investigation is active, but no arrests have been made. The dogs are being held by Benton County. The victim's daughter, Jordan, announced her mother's death on her Facebook page Thursday.
"It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of my Mom's passing early this morning September 21st. We're raising money for her end of life services. There will be a celebration of life planned. If you can help support in any way, not just monetarily, it would be greatly appreciated!" - Jordan Woodard
Jordan also organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to help pay the costs of her funeral and celebration of life services. "It is with a heavy heart that I bring the news my wonderful, amazing, kind, spunky mother passed away due to complications with a surgery at Kadlec Hospital on the early morning of September 21st." Jordan described her mother as, "Anyone who knows her knows that she was a light in her community and a pillar for those around her." The fund has so far raised over $9,000.
Dog-on-Dog Attack
A cousin of the victim, Vern Lampman Jr., said the attack occurred in her yard -- not inside her residence. As we initially suspected, it appears to have started as a dog-on-dog attack. Lampman states, "She gave her life rescuing her dog from the pit bulls." Under different circumstances, in March, Donald Gibson, 66, died after trying to break up a fight between his two rescue pit bulls in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gibson had previously owned a popular burger joint, Ralph's Hot & Juicy Burgers.
Dog-on-Dog Attack Confirmed
Nearly a week after Cameron's death, Apple Valley News interviewed her daughter, Woodard, who thanked them afterward for telling the "full story with the correct facts." Woodard confirmed that Cameron ran outside to save her dog "Diego" from the pair of pit bulls. One of the pit bulls followed her inside and started attacking Cameron instead. She was rushed to a hospital, where the damage from the attack became more evident than initially thought. A blood clot ultimately stopped her heart.
Diego survived the incident. The case remains under investigation. The post in the Missing Pets Pasco-Kennewick-Richland Washington Facebook Group about one of the pit bulls involved has since been removed. The author of the post states in comments, "The two dogs involved in the incident are with the Benton County, WA Canine Shelter now. There is an ongoing investigation. Owner has been identified. Unfortunately, the lady that was attacked died from complications following surgery."
The Tri-City Herald reports on another Facebook post by Cameron's cousin. Lampman Jr., stated four days ago that Diego suffered serious injuries and internal organ damage, "The pit bull had the pug in his mouth and was shaking it." Cameron was able to get her dog away from the pit bull "and was severely attacked in the process." A neighbor saw the attack unfold and climbed a 6-foot fence to help. Lampman then shared details of the chilling account, of which police released nothing about.
"As of yesterday, Billi's pug was still alive. He has serious puncture wounds and some internal organ damage. The pit bull had the pug in his mouth and was shaking it. Billi managed to get her dog away from the pit bull and was severely attacked in the process. The neighbor behind her property saw what was happening and climbed over the 6' fence, falling in onto Billi's property. He used his cane to beat the pit bull which allowed Billi to escape into her house. The 2nd pit bull followed her into her house and continued the attack. In the meantime, the neighbor found a shovel and ran into the house. He used it to get the dog away from her. She then managed to get into her bathroom, closed the door, and called 911." - Vern Lampman Jr., September 24, 2023
One of the dogs involved in the fatal attack was pictured on the Missing Pets Pasco-Kennewick-Richland Washington Facebook group page on September 21, 2023.
A relative of the victim states the attack began as she tried to rescue her own dog.
The attack occurred at a residence in the 6600 block of West Victoria Avenue in Kennewick.
View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: Washington Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.Related articles:
03/24/23: 2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Man, 66, Killed by Rescue Pit Bull After Trying to Break up a Fight
03/11/21: Peer-Reviewed Study Examines Dog-on-Dog Attacks in the UK by Analyzing Media Articles
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.
Poor lady just living in her house then these two vicious pitbull killed her in her own home .I can’t imagine the pain and horror her husband have to witness her dying when he can’t do anything to help her.I can hear the owner excuse I can’t believe my own baby doggy killed her he wasn’t aggressive it her fault for sitting there she make him mad.
If there are no charges filed then the city of Kennewick doesn’t care about the lives of its residents. As an owner of a popular business, Billi was a prominent member of her community and this case will receive attention, at least locally. The owner of those dogs will be a public example of what happens when your dog attacks someone. What kind of example will it be? I hope it won’t be another case of getting away with murder, as so many of these are.
We live down the street from where this attack occurred. I’m curious to know where the dogs came from as their are two dogs (one looks like a pit bull to me) that run loose each and every day even though the owners have been asked to please keep their dogs secure in their own yard. The local animal shelters are aware of these two dogs behavior as is the police and Sheriff’s offices. Both have warned the owners as well. The larger dog tried to bite my grandson one day on his way home from school and ever since that happened he looks to see if the dogs are loose when he gets off the bus. He will walk one street over even when it’s an extra fifteen minutes to get home. If these are the same dogs, then the owners should be criminally charged and certainly should be held legally liable as this is not a “one off”. These two dogs have been an ongoing neighborhood problem and the owners, the authorities, and certainly the neighbors ALL have been aware. It was just a matter of time before a tragedy like this happened. What a damn shame.
Animal Control should be held accountable too. They knew and did nothing.
Hi Keith. I agree that there should be criminal charges against the owner of the dogs that killed the woman. But there should also be charges against whatever dog that torments your grandson. This is unacceptable in civil society that children have to be afraid of pit bulls going to school.
Keith, I am her neice and I have been wondering that ever since it happened thank you for your post
Yes, I would like to see the outcome of this.
Another senior deprived of their twilight years by pitbulls. My condolences to her family and friends for losing their cherished loved one in such a horrific manner
It’s open season on children and the elderly.
Any society that refuses to protect vulnerable groups is a failed society.
I don’t understand why the family is down playing the dog attack. Without that there would not have been surgery.
It may be that a relative or family friend owned the dogs. Someone close to the case, hopefully, will post a comment here and we can learn more.
Maybe a relative lives next door and owns the dogs? The cousin who was not present, disregarding police info claiming the attack happened outside is weird.
Police did not reveal much information. The attack could have started outside then led inside. We don’t know.
I noticed that, too. This is very common, especially when family who owned the killer that killed their child. The GoFundMe or obit often makes no mention of how the child died. Anyone reading this new one, would believe Cameron simply died from surgical complications.
I thought the same thing. Even if the immediate cause of death was directly related to the surgery (say allergic reaction to the anesthesia), the reality is she was killed by the dog, since everything after that happened only because of the dog attack.
This is why even in my fenced yard I have a weapon on me. You never know when some idiots pit bull is running loose, half the time they don’t know either.
A little more background on the bar here: https://www.tri-cityherald.com/living/food-drink/article240640982.html
I disregard the cousins account, as the cousin was obviously not present. Hopefully not a nutter. The police know this occurred in the home, probably by blood, an broken slider screen, or doggie door. There was a pit bull that entered a window before in a town not far from me.
The daughter confirmed the incident started outside then led into her home… https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/woodys-in-kennewick-owner-dies-after-pitbull-attack/article_cad4e842-5d92-11ee-9955-177f1b04eb1e.html
The pitbull is the only common invasive breed of dog. They are totally comfortable attacking and killing their owners at home, entering doggy doors or open windows
to attack people and their pets,
and killing other dogs in the pit.
Yes, this is a bizarre phenomenon that a dog would enter a stranger’s home to attack the humans or their pets. It used to be the school of thought when I was a kid that if a dog came after you, you just walked up the steps of the nearest house as if you lived there and the dog would leave you alone. Even the stupidest dog knows the limits of his “territory.” Apparently pit bulls have not evolved to this level. Their behavior has no rationale other than DUMB brute prey drive. Why anyone would WANT to own this breed as a pet is beyond me.
Hi Cindy, my name is Rick and I live in an apartment in Chicago IL. I agree 100% about why anyone would own a Pitt Bull dog!
On May 28th this year, I was attacked by 2 Pitt Bull dogs while just walking to my apartment after arriving home getting out of my car at 11pm. They mauled my face and left arm, but I just managed to survive.
I got an attorney to do a lawsuit, but because the dog owner was a renter with no assets and no insurance on the dogs, and it was the first time those dogs had attacked anyone, I got nothing other than being marred for life, and over 4 months now spent in a hospital, several surgeries, unable to work at this time, and no family at all for support. I’m a 66 year old man.
God Bless,
Rick
I am so sorry this happened to you Rick. As a senior, your life should be just trying to manage your health and finances, enjoying what you can of you family/friends/hobbies and maybe, if it’s your style, walking around with an affectionate beagle making friends.
This is one of my truly hate peeves with this breed. The frequency with which they maul and kill vulnerable seniors and children. They are an apex predator so any human that is at less than optimal health is a prime target for them.
The sooner we see them for what they are, the sooner we will BSL them with a future eye to removing them completely from human social circles.
Rick. Sorry to hear that you were mauled. You should sue the apartment landlord. Also find out if the dog came from a shelter and sue the city or county that funds the shelter. Many big payouts by city and county funded shelters.
The UK XL Bully story is so compelling. While the bully folks had a big rally promoting their loveable lugs, a man was viciously attacked by an XL in a nearby park. The coward who owned it fled. On another note, this recent article about the dog walker who was found dead is fascinating. The British press really does a great job covering these attacks. After a thorough investigation, they have determined that this dogwalker’s own XL bully killed her. The dog had already attacked her twice before the final death knell.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12524419/amp/How-dog-walker-savaged-death-Surrey-beauty-spot-pounced-giant-pit-bull-rescued-weeks-DAVID-JONES-reveals.html?fbclid=IwAR1n-vX-mLACeptYJ3jVU35U8P0PU-To5GCizW82JSzLOWzT4aUWfglM9QE
This pitbull is weird. He killed his owner/dog walker, but he didn’t attack the other dogs.
One of the dogs was located on the Kennewick lost dog Facebook page… https://www.facebook.com/groups/581093698653344/posts/6500437156718939/
“Update: This dog is with Benton County Canine Control. It sounds like the owner has been identified. Very unfortunate story behind the original post with a sad outcome for everyone involved including the dogs, all because the owner didn’t take steps to keep the dogs on their own property.”
“Yes, this was one of the dogs involved in the incident. She required surgery for the injuries but passed away from complications following the procedure. I have read that there will be an autopsy, but regardless of what actually caused her death, it was ultimately the result of the attack. Just so sad for everyone. No question the dogs will likely be euthanized. Senseless tragedy that could have been avoided. And now an owner that will have this on their conscience for the rest of their life.”
Wow. I couldn’t access that link but I looked at the Facebook group and saw pictures of a pair of starving pitbulls on the loose, an aggressive dog standing outside a broken fence, and comments explaining how Animal Control won’t come pick them up because they don’t have any room at the shelter.
It sounds like the result of a misguided “no kill” policy, to me. If so, then that malfunctioning city department helped set up the conditions for Billi’s horrific death to happen.
“Sad outcome for everyone, including the dogs”?!?! Good grief. They killed a woman. They took a human life! Who cares about the dogs?! The only dog I feel any sympathy for is the pet she was trying to save from the vicious pits, but even that pales in comparison to the human life that was savagely taken. These people are insane. It blows my mind how far the culture of dog worship has gone.