Alabama Legislature Passes, "Emily's Law" After Her Death
After pit bulls killed Emily Mae Colvin, the Alabama legislature passed "Emily's Law."
Criminal Charges
UPDATE 04/05/18: The owners of five pit bulls that killed a 24-year old woman in early December have been charged with criminally negligent homicide, a misdemeanor. A Jackson County grand jury indicted Brian Keith Graden, 43, and Melody Ann Graden, 45, in connection to the death of Emily Mae Colvin. Both were booked into the Jackson County jail. In addition to the negligent homicide charge, both Gradens were charged with four counts of failure to vaccinate for rabies.
Felony charges could not be brought against the Gradens due to insufficient state laws. Emily's horrific death prompted Alabama lawmakers to pass a bill that imposes felony charges under certain conditions when a dog seriously injures or kills a person. Governor Kay Ivey signed the new legislation into law in late March. In Alabama, criminally negligent homicide is a Class A misdemeanor. The Gradens face a maximum penalty of one year in jail if they are convicted.
03/20/18: Felony Dog Attack Law
On Monday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law a felony dog attack law for Alabama. The new act, "Emily's Law," is in memory of Emily Colvin, 24, who was killed by her neighbor's five loose pit bulls in December. Back then, Jackson Sheriff Chuck Phillips said the case would go before a grand jury in March on possible charges of negligent homicide. In January, a judge ordered the remaining four pit bulls belonging to Brian and Melody Graden be destroyed.
The dangerous dog legislation, sponsored by Representative Ledbetter and Senators Livingston and Scofield, easily passed both chambers. Emily's Law provides for a sworn affidavit process to request a dangerous dog investigation, which is similar to other states, an impoundment and hearing process for a suspected dangerous dog and the requirements for owning a dog legally designated dangerous, if the court determines the animal can be returned to its owner.
Like other states, the legislation defines a higher felony, Class B, if a dog legally declared dangerous attacks again. If a dog has not been declared dangerous -- which is the case in the vast majority of serious and fatal attacks, as well the dogs that killed Emily -- and attacks, causing serious physical injury or death to a person, and the owner of the dog had prior knowledge of the dangerous propensities of the dog, the owner of the dog shall be guilty of a Class C felony.
Section 6. (a) If a dog that has previously been declared by a court to be dangerous, when unprovoked, attacks and causes serious physical injury or death to a person, the owner of the dog shall be guilty of a Class B felony.
(b) If a dog that has not been declared by a court to be dangerous, when unprovoked, attacks and causes serious physical injury or death to a person, and the owner of the dog had prior knowledge of the dangerous propensities of the dog, yet demonstrated a reckless disregard of the propensities under the circumstances, the owner of the dog shall be guilty of a Class C felony.
The now codified "prior knowledge of the dangerous propensities" is typical in felony dog attack laws for criminal liability -- but should be avoided at all cost for civil liability (one bite rule). Criminal penalties are about showing beyond a reasonable doubt a criminal mindset. For instance, a defendant had knowledge of the dog's dangerous propensities, yet still failed to properly secure them. In Emily's case, the Gradens pit bulls had previously escaped and killed some llamas.
12/09/17: Tribute Video and Fund
Our hearts ache for Emily's husband and her family. A tribute video has been created for Emily Colvin's Funeral Fund. "Emily Mae Colvin was a bright light that shined onto this dark and stormy world. She was only 24 years old. She was a loving wife, devoted daughter, thoughtful sister, caring aunt, and beloved friend." On December 7, she was struck down by five vicious pit bulls belonging to her neighbor. The Jackson County sheriff has vowed to seek criminal charges.
She'd only been married to Eric for about two years. The tribute video has many photos of their lovely wedding. "All who knew and love her are shocked and devastated because of this tragedy. She was married to Eric a little over 2 years. They were eternally devoted to each other and were looking forward to starting a family together. Eric was a loving husband who put Emily's needs before his. Emily's death will test his will and faith to its limits," states the GoFundMe page.
12/07/17: Pit Bulls Kill Woman
Section, AL - Authorities confirmed that a pack of pit bulls killed a 24-year old woman and injured another Thursday morning. 24-year old Emily Mae Colvin was discovered dead on arrival, deputies said. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about 9:00 am about a dog attack at County Road 121 in Section. A deputy shot and killed one of the dogs due to its aggression. Another woman was also injured. She was treated for her injuries and released.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Scottsboro Animal Control and Section Police confiscated four dogs from the property. All five dogs were described as pit bulls by authorities. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said they had never received a call about these particular dogs before and that Colvin was familiar with them. The second victim was not identified by police nor was the block area of County Road 121 where the attack occurred. Deputies continue to investigate.
One neighbor who would not go on camera said the dogs "never used to snarl, bark or nothing … if anything they would lick you to death."
WAAY reports that all five dogs belonged to Colvin's neighbor. A friend of Colvin's was talking to her on the phone and came to aid her when she heard the dogs attacking, Jackson County Sheriff Chuck Phillips said. The dogs then attacked her too. She was taken to a hospital with leg and arm injuries. "Dogs can run loose, but still the owner is responsible for the damages that they do," Phillips said. "So we will be seeking charges here in this case, probably in the March grand jury."
Later in the day, Sheriff Phillips clarified an earlier statement. This is the first time these dogs have attacked a human, he told WHNT, but it’s not the first complaint on record for the animals. "We received a call back sometime ago, maybe these dogs and the victim’s dog had killed llamas that were in a pasture nearby. That’s the only complaint we have ever had on them," Phillips said. The owner of the dogs could a face charge of negligent homicide, which is a Class A misdemeanor.
Second Fatal Pit Bull Mauling
This is the second fatal pit bull mauling in northeast Alabama in a matter of days. On November 29, about 50 miles away in Guntersville, a pack of pit bulls killed 46-year old Tracy Cornelius and severely injured another woman who had been walking along Jason Road. The four dogs first attacked the woman. Cornelius intervened to help save her and the dogs turned on her. Cornelius was pronounced dead at the scene. The other woman was airlifted to a hospital in Huntsville.
Always Release Photographs
We specifically posted this Tweet to call out the irrationality of it. There is an ongoing investigation in which Sheriff Phillips has vowed to seek criminal charges. Thus, there are 100 reasons to allow these dogs to be photographed by the media. Sheriff Phillips himself should have released photographs already so that members of the community who may have seen these dogs loose and behaving aggressively can identify them and provide testimony against the dogs' owner.
In our baseline reporting requirements, the #2 item is releasing identification photographs. Alone, police can rarely know the history of dogs involved in fatal attacks because many incidents go unreported. Yet, criminal charges greatly hinge on knowing this history. There may have been an incident a year earlier involving a neighbor that moved away. Without photographs released, that person will never have the chance to say, "That was the same dog that chased me last year."
#Update All 4 🐕 involved in the attack that killed 24-year-old Emily Mae Colvin in Jackson County are being held at Williams Animal Clinic. I asked to see the dogs, but they say because this is an ongoing investigation they couldn’t let me take video/pictures of them. @whnt pic.twitter.com/ppcMPEctG4— Aaron Cantrell (@AaronTheNewsGuy) December 7, 2017
View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Alabama Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.Related articles:
12/06/17: 2017 Dog Bite Fatality: Pack of Dogs Kill Woman, Injure Another in Guntersville
10/05/15: 2015 Dog Bite Fatality: Autauga County Woman Killed by Family Dogs
07/01/14: 2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bull Kills 5-Year Old Boy in St. Clair County, Alabama
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 wish that Sheriff Phillips' ho hum "clarification" of the previous attack by these dogs on livestock could be further clarified by a statement from the llama's owners. Or anyone that is actually willing to give some truthful information on that attack. The importance of these dogs taking on large livestock cannot be emphasized enough. Dogs, especially pits, do not look at a human victim and think, "Oh, that's a human, not livestock. I'd better leave that one alone because it's morally wrong to kill a human." It's the same to them. Just easier because humans can't run as fast.
Suggesting that her dog attacked previously might be victim blaming.
Since pits have been bred to be Ted Bundy hand grenade psychopaths, no species is safe when mutant instinct to attack meets opportunity to reach a victim.
Horse thieving was a capital offense. Few dogs would kill horses. Those who owned fighting dogs knew how deadly pits could be and kept them safely chained.
It has been said before, but having neighbors with pit bulls is like having a neighbor with lions. You hope to God the rickety fence holds. You hope that the dogs don't figure out that if they try, they can jump over the fence. You hope they don't start digging under it out of boredom. You are always viligent for any quick movement out of the side of your eye that may be a pit bull running free. You alway know when the dogs are in the yard. Your ears perk up when you are outside and you hear their barking, quickly pinpointing their location and breathing a sigh of relief that they are still behind the fence.
I know this well. There are no fewer then 10 pits in a one block radius of my house. Many households have at least two of them. You cannot for one moment ignore your gift of fear.
Why is the reporter being prevented from seeing the dogs? Will that make it harder for them to be, ahem, rescued?
How the hell is homicide a misdemeanor?
It's a misdemeanor when it's committed by a dog that just wants to lick you to death.
If "intent" is a factor, can we go after the organization who specifically said their intent is to "change the perception of pit bull dogs?"
Stubbydog, founded by Michael Mountain (co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society) has changed the perception of pit bulls with both organizations. They have succeeded, intentionally, in causing people to parrot their sales script which falsely claims that pit bulls are "misunderstood," "breed is not relevant" and that pit bulls are acceptable in residential areas. These pit bull specific animal "rescues" have worked diligently every day for more than a decade to do this and they did not stop after the horrific deaths, maulings, and attacks on other animals became commonplace.
Because BFAS housed Vick dogs, BFAS is well aware that they cannot become safe house pets.
Pit bulls have killed other animals at the BF sanctuary. A BF worker took RayRay, a Vick dog home (employee JC aka Jacqueline Johnson.) Her house as well as her yard had to be divided to prevent the Vick dog from coming into contact with her other dogs, according to her articles on Barkpost chronicling the experiences of rescuing pit bulls. She didn't specify how she managed inside the house, but her yard was divided with six foot fencing (according to another article written by JCJ on Barkpost.)
Incidentally, Jacquie's luck ran out with her most recent rescue, Bosco. Her forearms and hands are currently shredded. One finger had to be reattached. Her daughter, a vet in Kanab, Utah, assisted Bosco over the rainbow bridge and then began a GoFundMe for Jacquie, since aborted.
Jacquie was just as much a victim of the BFAS Pit Bull Initiative as the rest of the country is.
Their lies can be called nothing less than malicious and they're dangerous to all of us.
BFAS has never specialized in animal caretaking, and they encourage equally uneducated people to rescue animals, specifically pit bulls, as a tax free organization (BFAS offering to educate: the blind leading the blind.)
BFAS specializes in marketing and fundraising.
Via network partners, they market to school children to educate school children on dog safety when they do nothing of the sort. Marketing to children is regulated. The school program which involved bringing "dogs" into elementary schools was created by a now deceased Best Friends AS employee (accolades are viewable on the BFAS website.)
Their own workers will tell you that much more money should go into animal care than does in Glassdoor and Indeed reviews. The five star reviews mainly come from the well paid advertising and marketing specialists who get the big bucks which should be going towards reinforcing inadequate fencing and hiring more people to interact with their sanctuary animals (according to an ex employee who wrote the blog: Best Friends or Worst Enemies?)
I'm going with "Worst Enemies."
Over 500 Americans have been killed by this inappropriate, shit breed. I'm pretty sure that is far more than one person in every state. Why does it take someone getting killed to get the law changed to something that is reasonable? Why isn't severe injury or death by dog a felony in all states by now?
A step in the right direction but still not enough. There is simply NO excuse for choosing a type of dog know for the frequency and ferocity of its attacks then allowing an attack to occur. If these people didn't have a criminal mindset they probably wouldn't have pit bulls in the first place. It's like saying 'The drunk driver didn't mean to plow into a family in the oncoming lane and kill everyone, so, we'll just let him go with a slap on the wrist'. When does that ever happen?
A positive development yet at the same time not enough.There is just NO reason for picking a sort of canine know for the recurrence and savagery of its assaults at that point enabling an assault to happen.