Marshall Garrett is wanted for murder and faces felony dog attack charges after a woman's death.
Dog Owner Faces Felonies
Houston, TX - On April 9, Marshall Garrett, 38, was charged with three counts of felony dog attack resulting in death after his pit bulls killed a woman. The Houston Police Department said 65-year old Harriet Phillips was found dead in the backyard of her home in the 8000 block of Wayside Village Way on March 23. Three "Staffordshire-mixes" belonging to Garrett broke through a shared fence between the homes. Garrett did not witness the deadly attack but realized what happened and called 911.
The primary cause of death was "multiple blunt and sharp force injuries," according to the medical examiner. The manner of death was an accident. All three dogs were euthanized. At that time, no charges had been filed. On April 8, Garrett was charged with murder in connection to an unrelated death. The next day, he was charged with three felony dog attack counts. Online court records show that Garrett has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2005, including multiple felony charges.
KPRC obtained photographs of Garrett's damaged backyard fence and his three pit bulls: Boosie, Sophie and Cleo. The three felony dog attack charges -- one per dog -- were filed because Garrett failed to fix his damaged fenced to keep his dogs from accessing his neighbor's yard. Garrett's negligence resulted in her death. KPRC reports the murder charge stems from a person's death in October 2024. Garrett is "still wanted," not in police custody, and has a history of evading arrest.
Murder Victim Identified
KTRK reports that a surveillance camera on Phillips' house captured the victim trying to fend off the dogs with a hammer in her backyard. She is heard yelling, "Help! Help!" before she falls to the ground and is mauled. Earlier in the day, neighbors texted Garrett, alerting him that his dogs were digging holes under the fence and entering Phillips' property. Records obtained by KTRK show that Garrett responded with a text saying, "about to get it resolved." Hours later, Phillips was killed by his dogs.
At the time of the dog attack, Garrett was out of jail on bond for felony evading police. That case was filed January 11, 2025. He bonded out on January 13. The murder charge stems from a violent beating outside of a Family Dollar store in northeast Houston. Garrett is a co-defendant. A female suspect, Latrecia Washington, is also wanted. Garrett struck 69-year old Alton Martin in the back of the head with a blunt instrument, causing his death. The altercation stemmed from a dispute over $140.
Unintelligent Commenters
Several comments on the KPRC article stand out. Despite Garrett being charged with murder, three counts of dog attack causing death and having an "extensive criminal history" -- he is a criminal and a bad dog owner -- "Leslie" felt the need to "promote the breed" by talking about her "most affectionate" Staffordshire "ever" that lived "with two other dogs and cats and there was NEVER a problem." Though, one of her new pit bulls "is still learning who is alpha" and is animal-aggressive.
By the pit bull fan club's own logic, her comment is absurd. "Earth to Leslie," save your comment for when a "good" owner's pit bull attacks unprovoked.
But the next commenter, "Wayne" the troll, falls into a diabolical realm. He asks, "Where's the crime?" Then states, "Unlike guns, dogs are NOT inanimate objects ... These dogs acted on their own, and to charge their owner is beyond something I'm able to wrap my mind around." He next says, "I promise they weren't plotting and scheming on the woman." Wayne states that charging the owner "who wasn't even present" is a "miscarriage of justice." As if involuntary criminal offenses are nonexistent.
Wayne derails into unintelligence further. "I don't recall the owner of the tiger who attacked Roy being charged. So why this?" he asked. Well, because Siegfried & Roy, the famous animal-based magic show duo, owned the tiger that attacked Roy. There is no criminality when your own animal attacks you, be it in your home or on a Las Vegas stage in front of an audience. Wayne doesn't accept the concept of criminal negligence when a dog busts through its owner's fence and kills an innocent person.
A man wanted for murder in northeast Houston is also facing three felony dog attack charges.
Related articles:
10/08/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Babysitter's XL Pit Bulls Kill Baby, Attack Teenager Inside Home
09/20/24: Prosecution Closing Arguments In Fatal Dog Attack Trial; Judge Issues Sentences
Good I’m glad they’re giving him more serious thing then a slap on the wrist. Poor lady lived to be an old age. To get killed by these vicious monster of a dog.im pretty sure his neighbor report his dangerous pit bull but they don’t care they valued dogs lives over people lives.
Even though I don’t live next to pits I don’t go out in my own yard without a weapon on me.
You just can’t be too careful.
I’m glad this guy got charged and hope he spends the rest of his miserable life in prison instead of getting other people killed.
He should be held over without bond when he is caught. He is too dangerous to be in the public! Even People Magazine published about the murder case. https://people.com/murder-suspect-marshall-garrett-charged-after-pit-bulls-kill-neighbor-11715917
I wonder if they find him.are they going to charged Marshall with his murder first then her accidental death .they going to do them at the same time. I hope get two life sentences.hopefully they going to destroy those devil dogs.
I noticed on the People Magazine article that police took him into custody today. So, he is behind bars, at least for now. They will charge both cases at the same time. This can take several years and both cases are unrelated. It all depends upon the evidence. Apparently, video captured Garrett striking the man in the head then taking off in a car. That’s strong evidence. There is video of the dogs attacking Harriet—that’s strong evidence too. There is also evidence the dogs had bitten in the past. Mr. Garrett is in a precarious situation. The longer they hold him in jail pre-trial, the more he loses (his house, job, etc), which might cause him to plea. He can’t “evade” the system now.
The homes look nice and recently built, showing that in pit bull infested areas you can’t escape the chance of being harmed by them while going about your own business. Poor lady. I’m glad that my city is taking these attacks seriously.
We forcibly prevent certain people in our society from owning guns or driving cars, yet those same people are allowed to own ANY dog they want.
Consider that a paroled axe murderer is red flagged in the NICS system (banned from gun ownership) yet can terrorize his community with a half dozen pit bulls.
Somebody needs to tell Wayne the Troll about the elephant attacks and the criminal charges and lawsuits that resulted when they’ve rogue through the audience.
Siegfried’s own tiger, ate him.
So who do you charge in that case?
We’d all be fine if pitbulls ONLY ate their owners.
They don’t.
They maul everyone else in most cases. And usually, the most vulnerable–children, seniors and the disabled.