Dog Owner Charged with Negligent Homicide After Woman's Death
Brenda Witt, 60-years old, was killed by multiple dogs in Texarkana on Sunday.
Dog Owner Charged
UPDATE 10/13/23: On Wednesday, October 12, Chris Scott turned himself into the Miller County Sheriff's Office on the charge of negligent homicide in connection to the mauling death of 60-year old Brenda Witt in September. Scott is the owner of five pit bull-mix dogs -- a mother and four offspring -- that attacked Brenda. After returning from church that day, her daughter found Brenda dead inside an old vehicle on the property, where she had tried to take shelter from the violent dogs.
During the investigation, two other people came forward who claimed they had been bitten by the same dog pack in the past. In Arkansas, negligent homicide is generally a Class A misdemeanor with a penalty of up to one year in prison. Negligent homicide becomes a felony if the operator of a vehicle, an aircraft, or a watercraft is under the influence of a substance or is "fatigued" and causes the death of a person, which would not otherwise constitute murder or manslaughter charges.
Editorial Note: part of the history of this case has been behind a paywall at the Texarkana Gazette. An important detail that other news outlets did not report is that Scott told investigators he owned the female pit bull-mix, and that she had a litter of "eight" puppies about eight months ago. Scott found homes for four of the puppies, but the other four "ran around the neighborhood in a pack," reports the Gazette. Scott told investigators that "he could not even pet the dogs," Sheriff Easley said.
In March 2023, Scott posted images of his female pit bull-mix and her eight puppies.
09/26/23: Woman Killed by Multiple Dogs
Miller County, AR - On Sunday, September 24, 2023, at approximately 6:50 pm, Miller County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a residence on County Road 18 regarding a deceased person. Upon arrival, deputies were able to identify the victim as Brenda Witt of Genoa, Arkansas. Based upon evidence at the scene, investigators determined she was the victim of an animal attack. The suspected dogs involved were located and detained with assistance from Texarkana Animal Control.
Though the sheriff's office had not received previous reports about this "pack" of dogs, since Witt's death, other reports have surfaced. The sheriff's office stressed that no animal control department services the county. Texarkana, the county seat of Miller County, assisted. The breeds of dogs were not released, nor was a description of the dogs. The victim's brother, Tony, organized a fundraiser to help pay funeral costs. "She tragically lost her life 9/24/2023 in a horrible dog's attack," he wrote.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE 9/25/2023
****Prior to this incident, NO reports had been made regarding these specific animals. However, since this incident, other reports have been made in reference to this "pack" of dogs.
****Also note, Miller County does not have an animal control department that directly services the county. In this matter, Texarkana, Arkansas Animal Control did assist in the capture and detainment of the animals.
PRESS RELEASE
On Sunday, September 24, 2023, at approximately 6:50 in the evening, Miller County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a residence on MC 18 regarding a deceased person.
Upon arrival, Deputies were able to identify the victim as Ms. Brenda Witt of Genoa, Arkansas. Based on the evidence found at the scene, Detectives were able to determine Ms. Witt was the victim of an animal attack. The suspected canines involved in this offense were located and later detained with assistance from the Texarkana, Arkansas Animal Control Di vision. The canines are being held and examined to determine their involvement in this offense. At this time, the investigation is still on-going.
A local resident states that Witt is 60-years old. While not verified by the sheriff's office, the resident states the deadly dog attack occurred outside during the daylight hours while Witt was in her yard or the vicinity of it. Witt tried to take refuge in an old vehicle on the property, which had no battery in it, so she could not honk the horn, the resident wrote. "She was in serious condition and had no cell phone to call for help with. That is where she was found this evening by her family," the resident wrote.
Back in January, 66-year old Doris McBurse was found dead inside a vehicle on her property after being attacked by one of her blue nose pit bulls in Pitts, Georgia. The dog had previously been chained on the property, but the animal broke free that day and attacked her. She and her husband had owned the dog for several years. Her husband, Harris McBurse, had been breeding and selling pit bulls for some time. He advertised both red and blue nose pit bulls for sale on his Facebook page.
Pit Bull-Mixes Identified
On Tuesday evening, Miller County Sheriff Wayne Easley confirmed that all five dogs involved are pit bull-mixes, according to a report by KSLA. The dogs are currently in custody at Texarkana Animal Control. At least two other people previously bitten by the dogs have come forward. The victim's daughter had gone to church that Sunday, leaving her mother at home. When she returned from church, she found her mother dead inside of a car on the property. Multiple dog bites were visible.
The Miller County Sheriff's Office issued a press release after multiple dogs killed Brenda Witt.
View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Arkansas Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.Related articles:
08/17/23: 2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Blytheville Woman Mauled by Three Pit Bulls in June Dies...
03/16/23: Arkansas Legislature Debates Bill Prohibiting Cities from Enacting Breed-Specific Laws
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.
I’ve never seen pitbulls doing protection work and don’t want to see it. I went to a GSD dog show and watched Schutzhund sleeve work. As soon as the agitator (helper) stopped moving, nearly all of the GSDs released their grip.
In other words, the handlers didn’t even need to give their dogs any release commands.
In actuality, the dogs were playing tug of war games.
I wouldn’t want to see pitbulls doing this, as I suspect there could be a huge problem getting them to release.
Different breeds work differently. In policework both GSDs and Belgian malinois are used. Malinois often are more difficult to control than GSDs.
I don’t want to get off the pitbull aggression subject. Most pitbulls that bite do so without warning. Getting a pitbull to release its bite is difficult. Sometimes killing it is the only solution. The best way to release a pitbull’s bite is by using a break stick. In no case should anyone hit a biting pitbull unless the blows are very severe. Why? Pitbulls will bite harder if hit.
GSD kill people all the time.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6180633/Seven-stone-police-dog-fight-mode-broke-free-savage-pensioner-aged-73.html
Fans of these dogs are similar to pit bull fanatics- they project a lot of intelligence onto these dogs that just isnt there.
GSDs are lower risk than pits, but 100 of times more dangerous than golden retrievers, and infinitively more than a chihuahua.
That was a very sad and disturbing story, Andy. The dog handler was quick to blame anyone but himself. In the end he got a written warning.
It’s great charges were files, but heck – a misdemeanor, not a felony and the max is only one year in prison? That’s all that poor woman’s life is worth?