Category Archives: Criminal Charges & Trials

A collection of blog posts documenting the criminal trials of the owners of dangerous dog breeds after their dog seriously injures or kills a person.

Criminal Trial: Detroit Pit Bull Owner Convicted on Two Counts of Manslaughter After His Dogs Brutally Killed a Young Boy

The Criminal Trial of Geneke Antonio Lyons Xavier Strickland, 4-years old, was killed by pit bulls in Detroit in December 2015. Light Sentence UPDATE 06/30/16: Judge James Callahan sentenced Geneke Antonio Lyons, 42, to 5-years probation with a year in "work release" jail after his pit bulls eviscerated a little boy. The sentence was below the guidelines of 19 to 38 months. Prosecutors had originally charged Lyons with second-degree murder, but Callahan threw out that ch… [Read full blog post]

2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Visiting Child Killed by Babysitters' Pit Bull-Mix in Grayson County, Virginia

Grayson Count Dog Owners Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter Authorities charged John Underwood II and Terra Connell with second-degree murder. Prison Sentences UPDATE 02/02/18: A Grayson County Circuit Court has sentenced both babysitters in connection to the dog mauling death of a 15-month old baby who was under their care at the time. The two defendants held separate trials. In May 2017, John Terry Underwood II, 52, was sentenced to 25 years in prison (with 18 years… [Read full blog post]

2015 Dog Bite Fatality: 4-Year Old Boy Savagely Killed by Four Pit Bulls in Detroit

Xavier Strickland, 4-years old, was killed by pit bulls in Detroit in December 2015. Owner to Face Trial UPDATE 01/07/16: The owner of a pack of pit bulls that killed a 4-year old boy on December 2, will stand trial in the death of a child. At the end of the preliminary examination, Judge Lydia Nance-Adams ruled Geneke Lyons, 41, will proceed to trial on the charges of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and possessing dangerous animals causing death in connection… [Read full blog post]

2015 Dog Bite Fatality: Oklahoma Man Dies After Vicious Attack by Five Pit Bulls

Dog Owner Pleads Guilty; Sentenced to Jail Time Area where Edgar Brown was viciously attacked by five pit bulls on October 6. Owner Pleads Guilty UPDATE 11/04/17: The Oklahoma City owner of five pit bulls pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree manslaughter after his dogs killed a man in 2015. Juan Marcos Diaz, 46, was sentenced to one year in prison and three years probation. He received credit for nine months already served. Charges were filed against Diaz in August 2016, ni… [Read full blog post]