Kyle Holland, 5-years old, was fatally attacked by one or more dogs in Lincoln Park.
Autopsy Report Released
UPDATE 07/15/10: An autopsy report released Wednesday confirmed that Kyle Holland died of multiple crush wounds due to dog bites. An earlier article by FOX 2 reported that neighbors had complained of the dogs "time and time again" to Lincoln Park Animal Control. Neighbor Mike Lockhart said, "They told us that they thought it was a hybrid wolf and it wasn't supposed to be in the city." Despite this knowledge, the owner was allowed to keep the prohibited animal.
"According to official reports found by FOX 2, the dogs were involved in a bloody fight with another dog in November. Plus, at least one of them was found roaming the neighborhood. Animal Control officers told the owner that wolf hybrids were not allowed in the state. He said he was leaving and heading to West Virginia, another state that won't allow them in. But despite that, the owner paid his fines and Animal Control gave the dog back. Neighbors say that should never have happened." (Alexis Wiley, MyFoxDetroit.com)
07/13/10: Victim: Kyle Holland, 5-Years Old archived
Lincoln Park, MI - In a story that emerged Monday evening, officials continue to investigate the death of a 5-year old Lincoln Park boy. The boy was found upstairs by his mother at about 9:30 am Monday morning. An autopsy report by the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office had been expected to be available Tuesday afternoon. However, Police Chief Thomas Karnes said that due to the extent of the boy’s injuries, the report might not be available for seven to 10 days.
Officials are treating the incident like a homicide investigation. The child had been dead for several hours prior to police arriving. Authorities seized two dogs from the house, an alleged German shepherd-husky mix1 and a black lab-mix, neither of which appear bloody in the photos.2 Both dogs belong to a live-in boyfriend who is not Kyle's father. He is currently being held for possession of drugs. The boy's mother was released from police custody after being questioned.
Neighbors said they could hear the mother screaming after she found her son. One said the boyfriend fled in his vehicle after the screaming erupted. He later returned. Another neighbor described one dog he saw as "pretty good sized" and "brown and white." He added, "From what I understand, there was another dog that was a full blooded wolf." (It is difficult to mistake a black dog from a "brown and white" dog, but the person may have been referring to the husky-mix).3
The number of questions this case raises about potential criminal behavior is uncharted territory for DogsBite.org. Fortunately, the case lies in the hands of Lincoln Park officials and the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office. In 2007, The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology published a fatal dog bite injury study, Pitbull Mauling Deaths in Detroit, by Cheryl Loewe, Fransico Diaz, and John Bechinski, of the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office.
2A dog cannot bite a child to death without blood left on its mouth and fur. As in other fatal dog attack cases, the offending dog may have been washed down afterward.
3In addition to neighbors having confusion about the dogs, they also believed that more than one child lived at the home. Police confirmed that Kyle was the only one.Nate Stemen, "LINCOLN PARK: Autopsy scheduled for 5-year-old killed by apparent dog attack (with videos)," The News-Herald, July 13, 2010 (www.news-herald.com) URL:http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2010/07/13/news/doc4c3cadd047354589179648.txt?viewmode=fullstory. Accessed: 2014-04-29. (Archived by WebCite® at https://www.webcitation.org/6PCUwUCbP)
Nate Stemen, "LINCOLN PARK: Death of boy mauled by dog ruled homicide
July 14, 2010 (www.news-herald.com) URL:http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2010/07/14/none/doc4c3e0a5ad85bf270253001.txt?viewmode=fullstory. Accessed: 2014-04-29. (Archived by WebCite® at https://www.webcitation.org/6PCVKwY6w)
Related articles:
04/23/18: Fatal Wolf-Dog Hybrid Attacks - The Archival Record - DogsBite.org
06/30/11: Justice for Lincoln Park Fatal Dog Attack Victim Finally Emerges
09/25/10: Activist Seeks Justice for Kyle Holland After Fatal Dog Mauling
there are so few dog laws on the books to protect society, it is just so damn infuriating when the enforcers of those laws fail to do their jobs.
if wolf hybrid numbers ever approach anything near what the pit numbers are, we will have absolute anarchy. these dogs pose an extreme danger.
wolves and their hybrid mixes should NOT be allowed as pets under any circumstance anywhere in the united states. they should be rounded up and killed.
I love the wolf hybrid comments:
Liz says:
"Wolf dogs are misunderstood, they're behavior is due to their owners. Mistreat any dog, and they can turn on you. People just assume their terrible because they hear "wolf" and their fear takes over. Do some obviously needed research before you make stupid assumptions."
Taken directly from the pit bull Maul Talk manual!
On a far more serious note.
Mimi says:
"It kills me to hear this story and I cannot help but to follow it with intensity, because I know the boyfriend and I also remember when they took the wolf dog from him…..and all it took was a phone call from an attorney and LP Animal contol let it be released…UGH..So many fingers to point….and so sad for Kyle….."
FOX has a previous article here:
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http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/lincoln-park-boy-found-dead-dogs-may-be-to-blame-20100712-wpms
CW says:
"The little boy is my cousin and he had special needs such as assistance in walkin so why in the world would u put a little boy upstairs when he is not able to walk down the stairs by himself. Kyle had allready been through alot his father died in michigan too about five years ago and Kyle was a small infant. My family and I have never understood the cause of the death of his father and dont understand this either. We feel like there was more to both of the deaths . All i know we hurt so bad we all loved Kyle and his daddy and will miss them so so much. They are both together with God. I love and miss them both. I hope the people involved in this will answer for this."
Joeholland2295 says:
"I am Kyle's grandfather in Knoxville Tennessee. Our side of the family only found out around 11 am this morning what has happened to our grandson. I feel that Kyle's death was a direct result of child neg. and an unfit mother. Kyles father was killed five years ago this 08 July father fighting with Kyles mother about wanting to move back to Tennessee and bring Kyle his son with him. At least the father and son are together in heaven now in peace and I hope the mother and boyfriend are punished to the fullest extent of the law. How could you not hear your son screaming, dogs don't attack silently, maybe they were both passed out from drugs or something. She will have to live the rest of her life knowing she let her son die!!!"
Citizen says:
"July 8, 2005 Kyle's biological father Justin Holland was Supposedly killed in a car accident. All his friends and family suspected it was a murder cover up but couldn't prove it. When Debbie was pregnant with Kyle; Justin owned a rottweiler that he was crazy about, he would lick you to death before he'd bite you. Debbie didn't want him keeping the dog so he had to leave it in TN. Yet it was ok for her live-in boyfriend to own dangerous dogs. Now exactly 5yr 4 days later poor little Kyle has gone to be with his daddy."
I'm sure the owner of the wolf hybrid told folks the same thing.
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http://thenewsherald.com/articles/2010/07/15/none/doc4c3e0a5ad85bf270253001.txt
JUSTIN BRENT HOLLAND, AGE 25, of WYANDOTTE, MICHIGAN, FORMERLY OF CLARKRANGE, TN, Passed Away Friday, July 8, 2005 in Wyandotte, MI. Funeral Service will be Tuesday, July 12, 2005 at 7:00 PM EASTERN TIME at the Friends Chapel Baptist Church with burial in the Sherwood Memorial Cemetery in Alcoa, TN.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 12, 2005 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM EASTERN TIME at Friends Chapel Baptist Church on Hwy 62 East.
JUSTIN BRENT HOLLAND is survived by:
Wife – DEBRA HOLLAND of Wyandotte, Mich.
Son – KYLE JOSEPH HOLLAND of Wyandotte, Mich.
STEP SON – NATHAN LEHRE of Wyandotte, Mich.
Mother – JUDY FINCHEM of Deer Lodge, Tenn.
Father – ROY CLIFFORD "JOE" HOLLAND of Greenback, Tenn.
Brother – JASON KEITH HOLLAND of Clarkrange, Tenn.
Brother – JOSEPH SCOTT HOLLAND of CAMP CASEY, KOREA
Sister – STACY ROBBIN GHAZI of Chandler, Ariz.
Sister – VENICA WISEMAN of Peru, Indiana
Sister – MICHELLE FINAZZO of Morristown, Tenn.
GRANDPARENTS – WILLARD AND BARBARA WILLOCKS of Maryville, Tenn.
GRANDMOTHER – GLADYS HOLLAND SWOFFORD of Greenback, Tenn.
Jennings Funeral Homes of Clarkrange, TN in charge of services for JUSTIN BRENT HOLLAND of Wyandotte, Michigan, formerly of Clarkrange.
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http://www.genealogybuff.com/tn/fentress/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/40