2016 Dog Bite Fatality: New Haven Woman Dies After Violent 'Hannibal Lecter' Style Mauling by Pit Bull-Type Dogs

Harvard Graduate, Doctor in Residency Owns the Dogs

Jocelyn Winfrey killed by pit bull type dogs
Jocelyn Winfrey was killed by two pit bull-type dogs in New Haven, Connecticut.

Alderman Explores Ideas
UPDATE 07/07/16: The two dogs that brutally attacked Jocelyn Winfrey on June 20, inflicting catastrophic injuries, were put down yesterday. Winfrey succumbed to her injuries and died on June 27. Yesterday also marked the first public statement by Yale University since the attack. Karen Peart, a spokeswoman for Yale, told the New Haven Register that at the time of the attack the owner of the dogs, Dr. Hamilton Hicks, was "on leave" from the school and continues to be.

For the record, Yale University made its first public statement about the incident 16 days after the gruesome attack and 9 days after Winfrey died. The attack was so horrific one witness told the New Haven Independent, still shaken days later, “All the flesh was ripped away from her calf. The artery was just hanging there." The witness added, "Half of her face was basically bitten off. She looked like she was dead." Before dying, Winfrey lost both eyes and underwent a leg amputation.

Coincidentally the Yale Daily News published its first story about the attack yesterday as well. They are not publishing any comments.1

Alderman Brian Wingate lives near Hicks' home. After hearing screams, he rushed to the scene to help. Witnessing the two dogs brutally maim Winfrey fundamentally altered Wingate, who has pledged to explore changes in the dog ordinance. During yesterday's Board of Alders meeting, Wingate's order to hold a public workshop relating to dog attacks, vicious dogs and ownership responsibilities was passed. Wingate said he wanted the meeting "sooner rather than later."

The Soul Searching Begins

What can people like Wingate, and the other witnesses and first responders haunted by images of the attack, do at this time? What can the community do, which recoiled in shock, grief and outrage that such a horrific act could occur in their community with no repercussions? The act was an unprovoked savage attack by two pit bull-type dogs in Hicks' private fenced-in yard. He was right beside her and could not stop his dogs in a maiming scene matched only by "Hannibal Lecter."

In 2013, the Connecticut legislature passed a preemption bill barring municipalities from adopting breed-specific laws, including mandatory pit bull sterilization ordinances, which is the very least city officials can do to help protect public safety (Both of Hicks' dogs were male and at least one was unaltered.). Because the vicious attack occurred on private property, at least in this state, New Haven Police said no criminal charges applied. So, Dr. Hicks' has no criminal culpability.

The short answer to our question of "what can be done" after Winfrey's death is "not much." State legislators intended this result in 2013.

We greatly admire and respect Wingate and hope that his public meeting can lead to concrete results. These results could simply be an honest discussion about bull-baiting and fighting breeds to raise awareness of the gravely disfiguring injuries they inflict. Also how pit bulls and their close relatives "repeatedly" attack their victims and often refuse to stop even after great violence is inflicted upon them. This is why traumatic injuries and eventually death ensued in this case.

Still the soul searching continues. There is no one to hold criminally responsible for this deadly attack due to completely insufficient criminal laws. There are no adequate municipal tools to prevent similar attacks either. Hicks' can acquire two new "American bulldog-mixes" tomorrow and start this process all over again. A result state legislators also intended in 2013. At the very least, Winfrey's family should have civil recourse because Connecticut is a solid strict liability state.


06/27/16: Victim Did Not Survive
A 53-year old New Haven woman who suffered life-altering injuries after a violent attack by two pit bull-type dogs last week has died. Alderman Brian Wingate, who witnessed part of the grisly mauling, confirmed Jocelyn Winfrey's death Monday evening. On June 20, Winfrey and the dogs' owner, Dr. Hamilton Hicks, returned to his home. After they entered into his fenced-in yard, his two dogs brutally attacked Winfrey. Hicks attempted to intervene, but he could not stop his dogs.

Wingate previously described the attack as producing "Hannibal Lecter" style injuries. "The attack was really, really horrific." - Alderman Brian Wingate

Winfrey has been in a medically induced coma since the attack. On Monday, doctors removed her from life support. Doctors previously stated they did not know if she would survive and that her injuries were even worse than what Charla Nash suffered after being attacked by a chimpanzee. Police have consistently stated that both dogs involved in Winfrey's attack are pit bulls. However, Animal Control Officer Joseph Manganiello said the dogs are likely "American bulldog-mixes."

Dr. Hamilton Hicks, who is in residency at the Yale School of Medicine for psychiatry, was charged with a misdemeanor for possession of crack cocaine after the horrific attack. Hicks earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from Harvard University then attended medical school at the University of Miami in Miami-Dade County. That is where Hicks acquired the dogs, according to Manganiello, a county with a longstanding pit bull ban that refuses to recognize pit bull-mixes.

Five people have been killed by variances of Miami-Dade's "breed labeling game," primarily American bulldog-mixes, since August 2014.

Manganiello also refused to allow any New Haven news reporters to view or photograph the dogs while they are under quarantine. When asked why the dogs butchered Winfrey and attacked their owner, Manganiello said, "I would believe they were protecting their own property.” It has already been reported that Winfrey was familiar with the dogs. These Miami-Dade County "American bulldog-mixes" attacked their Ivy League owner too. Hicks surrendered both dogs for euthanasia.

Doctor Walks Away Scot-Free

In Connecticut, as in many states, unless there is evidence that at least one of the dogs had been adjudicated as dangerous previously, there will be no criminal charges. The deadly pit "bulldog" mauling of Winfrey that occurred on the dog owner's property falls under the loathed loophole we refer to as, Defeated Prosecutor Syndrome. In other words, Dr. Hicks has zero culpability in her death and can acquire new pit bulls or Miami-Dade County "American bulldog-mixes" at any time.


06/23/16: Mauling Victim Identified
The victim has been identified as Jocelyn Winfrey, 53-years old, who remains in a medically induced coma in "extremely grave" condition after two pit bulls brutally attacked her Monday. Winfrey has lost both of her eyes, her right leg and may suffer an arm amputation as well. Doctors do not know if she will survive. Doctors previously stated that Winfrey's traumatic pit bull injuries are even worse than what Charla Nash endured after being attacked by a chimpanzee in 2009.

Winfrey was familiar with Hicks' two dogs. She also recently posted a photo to her Facebook page posing with her own pit bull, named Butter.

Police have arrested the owner of the dogs, Dr. Hamilton Hicks, 3-days after the vicious attack on charges of misdemeanor possession of crack cocaine. Hicks is currently in residency at the Yale School of Medicine for psychiatry. Hicks earned his psychology degree from Harvard University in 2001 then attended the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Police say they could add additional charges related to the violent pit bull mauling, especially if Winfrey dies.

06/22/16: Drug Possession Charge
The New Haven Independent reports that police have charged the 37-year old Harvard-trained doctor who owns the attacking dogs with illegally possessing crack cocaine at the time of the vicious mauling. The horrific pit bull attack, described by a witness as "Hannibal Lecter" style, occurred Monday night in the yard of a New Haven home. The doctor and a female friend had returned to his home and entered into his fenced-in yard when his pit bulls savagely attacked her.

“All the flesh was ripped away from her calf. The artery was just hanging there,” another witness recalled, still shaken days later. “Half of her face was basically bitten off. She looked like she was dead. She had to lose two gallons of blood, easy. The front sidewalk in front of the house was covered with blood.” - New Haven Independent

The female victim, identified only as Jocelyn, suffered the loss of both eyes, her right leg and doctors are trying to save one of her arms, according to Assistant Police Chief Anthony Campbell. "She lost both eyes. She has severe facial injuries. She’s in extremely critical condition," Campbell said Wednesday. Campbell also said that doctors are calling her injuries even worse than the ghastly chimpanzee attack of Charla Nash in 2009, who later underwent a full face transplant.

06/22/16: Horrific Pit Bull Attack
New Haven, CT - Last night we became aware of a nightmarish pit bull mauling at a home on Ella T Grasso Boulevard in New Haven. The owner of the two pit bulls, identified as Hamilton Hicks, entered his fenced-in property with a female friend. As soon as the two were inside, his dogs viciously attacked her. When Hicks intervened, his pit bulls attacked him as well. New Haven Alderman, Brian Wingate, is a neighbor of Hicks and described what he saw in media interviews.

My understanding is that she was a friend -- friends don't let friends get eaten up by their dogs. When I say, "I’ve never seen nothing like this in my life"...

It plays in my head, to be honest with you. Her thighs, her ankles, her arms, part of her face, her ears, were honestly mauled. I could see the bones on her body, in reference to her thighs, her legs, her ankles and her face. It was so bloody, along with mud from the dog prints. Also the owner was muddy from the dog prints ... It was unbelievable...

I've never seen nothing like this. I have only seen this on Hannibal Lecter, in the movies. This was really, really horrific. - Alderman Brian Wingate

Hicks is currently in residency at the Yale School of Medicine. By today, Hicks had removed his Facebook profile. According to other online profiles, Hicks graduated from Harvard in 2001, attended the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine then began a residency in psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. The primary teaching hospital for the school is Yale-New Haven Hospital, where both victims were transported after the "Hannibal Lecter" style attack.

The two dogs are described as a pit bull and American bulldog. Media and neighbors captured grainy photos of one of the dogs last night.

It is unknown if the woman, named Jocelyn, will survive. On the way to Yale-New Haven Hospital last night, she "coded twice" en route -- she underwent cardiac arrest twice. One commenter (gram14) on the New Haven Independent article last night stated in part, "This young woman lost both her ears, one eye (possibly the other) extreme facial, neck and throat injuries and severe extremity injuries. Due to throat injuries she was not able to be intubated when she coded twice."

Hamilton Hicks has no excuses for his ownership of pit bulls, a dog breed that kills more people than all breeds combined. He has no excuses for not having access to the many medical studies about the horrific nature of pit bull injuries, some studies compare them to shark attack injuries. Hicks has no excuses for not knowing (or caring about) the purpose-bred history of the breed: bull-baiting and dogfighting. The poor choices by Hicks have cost this woman the rest of her life.

Like most pit bull owners, Hicks could not stop his dogs while they viciously mauled Jocelyn leaving her unrecognizable and nearly dead. Hicks, who was in residency to help individuals with psychiatric disorders, frankly needs his own head examined. Recall the types of people who typically own pit bulls. The Independent is now running a vote on whether to ban pit bulls. This is a moot point. Connecticut passed a preemption bill in 2013 that bars cities from regulating pit bulls.

pit bull-type dogs kill New Haven woman

pit bull-type dogs kill New Haven woman

1You can certainly try leaving a comment on the Yale Daily News article, but we have multiple reports that none are appearing after submission.

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Cities in Province of Quebec Move to Adopt Breed-Specific Bylaws After Pit Bull Horrifically Kills Woman

Quebec Provincial Officials Signal Similar Pursuit

Province of Quebec christiane vadnais
Medical responders on June 8 seen removing the body of Christiane Vadnais.

Montreal Seeks Ban
Montreal, CA - On June 8, Montreal city officials, media members and the public recoiled in horror after a 55-year old woman was savagely killed by a neighbor's pit bull while in her own backyard. The nightmarish unprovoked attack that left Christiane Vadnais dead and first responders shaken to their core, occurred in Pointe-aux-Trembles, one of Montreal's 19 boroughs. Since this time, the cities of Quebec, Brossard and Montreal have announced their intentions to adopt a pit bull ban.

Quebec provincial officials have also announced their intention of a adopting a breed-specific bylaw province-wide by the end of this year.

The deadly attack of Christiane came just a few weeks after an investigation by La Presse showed that pit bulls were the primary offenders in serious attacks, causing the debate about dangerous dogs in Montreal to intensify. The end result was to establish a uniform set of rules for dangerous dogs across all 19 boroughs in Montreal by 2018. A breed-specific bylaw had not been ruled out at that time. Now in the wake of Christiane's death, city officials are resoundingly favoring a ban.

Humane groups in Montreal fired back with the same staggering deceptions and obfuscations about pit bulls as they do in the United States. Except that in many cities across the province of Quebec, no one is listening anymore. The horrific death of Christiane and preventing future deaths like hers outweighs the rights of a fringe group of dog owners -- pit bull owners. There are over 300 other dog breeds far more adapted to life in society today; so chose one is the prevailing logic.

Witnessing Historic Event Unfold

As the second most populace province in Canada turns its weight toward a breed-specific pit bull ban, second only to the province of Ontario, which has banned pit bulls since 2005, Americans are witnessing an historic event unfold. Canadian officials in Quebec are responding to the public outcry by placing the safety of their citizens first and foremost and also pointing to the excellent results Ontario achieved after adopting its ban; vicious attacks by pit bulls dropped dramatically.

The year before the Ontario ban went into effect, 2004, there were 168 pit bull bites in it's largest city of Toronto, by 2013 there were only 13.1

What is happening in the province of Quebec right now is a stunning contrast to the U.S., where many politicians -- and major media outlets too -- slink under tables at the very utterance of breed-specific legislation due to fear of being attacked by pit bull advocates. Even the CDC, our nation's "health protection agency," is not brave enough to take a stance in this area for American children. At least in parts of Canada, this sobering chart of U.S. fatal pit bull attacks is wholly unacceptable.

The chart is wholly unacceptable to DogsBite.org and our many dedicated supporters as well. We issued this chart last year when investigating the history of state preemption laws in the U.S. that bar local governments from enacting pit bull laws. The death chart shows that CDC abandoned this issue in 1998. Since that time, there has been a 560% increase in human deaths inflicted by pit bulls. The "American scene" of fatal pit bull attacks stands as a grave warning to all countries.


CDC and state preemption laws prohibiting pit bull laws


FACT: Across the world, over 40 countries -- or parts within these countries -- regulate pit bull terriers. It does not matter the country or the continent. Wherever this breed appears, it maims and kills people disproportionately. These countries include, but are not limited to: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bavaria, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guyana, Honduras, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Lativa, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, Switzlerland, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, United States and Venezuela.


1Eric Andrew-Gee and Joel Eastwood, "Pit bulls were Toronto’s biggest biters, before the ban," TheStar.com, October 3, 2014 (www.thestar.com)
URL:http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/10/03/pit_bulls_were_torontos_biggest_biters_before_the_ban.html. Accessed: 2014-10-06. (Archived by WebCite® at https://www.webcitation.org/6T834ej0h)

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Coroner: Dead Before Mauling - Elderly Woman Found Bitten and Dead in Antioch Home

antioch woman mauled by dogs
Police at scene where a 71-year old woman was found bitten and dead in Antioch.

Dead Before Mauling
UPDATE 06/08/16: An autopsy on the 71-year old woman found dead yesterday in her Antioch home covered in dog bites determined she died of a massive stroke before the family dogs inflicted severe bites all over her body. Deputy Coroner Orlando Portillo said Elizabeth Flood "was dead before the dogs got to her." Portillo said they are not releasing the number of bites that were discovered during the autopsy. The death of Elizabeth Flood is a post-mortem mauling case.

Previously, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said that Flood was mauled so badly, it would take dental records to positively identify her. Flood's 23-year old grandson arrived home after work at about 5:30 pm yesterday and found her dead inside a bedroom in the home. As we expressed earlier, post-mortem dog mauling cases are rare but do occur. It is unclear why, however, officials will not release the number of bite injuries, except that it might make dog owners uncomfortable.

06/07/16: Dog Mauling Suspected
Lake County, IL - A 71-year old woman was found dead in her home covered in dog bites. Authorities suspect the family dogs. An autopsy will be performed Wednesday. Her grandson discovered her body at their home on the 26000 block of West Channel Avenue after he returned from work at 5:30 pm, Detective Christopher Covelli with the Lake County Sheriff’s office said. The family dogs, a lab-chow mix and German shepherd had bitten her multiple times, Covelli said.

"The bites were very extensive, there were multiple bites all over the 71-year-old's body from her head to her toes." - Christopher Covelli

The woman was mauled so badly, the sheriff's department says it will take dental records to positively identify her, reports Fox 32. This is a red flag and may indicate she died before the mauling. Authorities also said there were no signs of a struggle for the victim. It is also unclear if both dogs were involved. The German shepherd, described as "calm" by a neighbor, was found wandering the area and the grandson indicated the attack was by done by a "dog" (singular).1

Post-Mortem Mauling Cases

Just a month ago, a high profile "post-mortem mauling" occurred in Brownsburg, Indiana. Lola Endres, 61, an animal rescue advocate, was found bloody and dead, covered in significant dog bite injuries inflicted by one or both of her family dogs. Both dogs were English bulldogs. The Hendricks County Coroner later determined that all of the bites were inflicted post-mortem, thus none contributed to her death. Endres had a heart condition and suffered a fatal heart attack.

These cases are rare, but do occur. To have two cases so close together would be very usual.

1In the NBC Chicago video -- that posted just after we published -- Covelli stated, "She had been with the dogs home alone 'several' times in the past." That detail strongly indicates a fatal dog attack scenario.

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05/10/16: Coroner: Dog Bite Injuries Inflicted After Death; Woman Found Dead in Brownsburg

2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Police Kill Pit Bull After Dog Fatally Attacks a Man in Stockton

pit bull kills man in stockton
Earl Stephens Jr., 43, was was killed by a pit bull while visiting the dog owner's home.

'Repairing a Scooter'
UPDATE 06/06/16: Earl Wayne Stephens Jr., was helping a friend repair a scooter in the friend's front yard on Saturday in east Stockton, the local paper reports. "Little did anyone know it would be the last thing he ever did," states the Stockton Record. Both men were inside the friend's home on North Gertrude Avenue at about 3:45 pm, when Stephens went outside to get some cigarettes from his car, according to Deputy Les Garcia with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

As soon as he stepped outside, the pit bull, named Harley, viciously attacked him. The Record reports the dog had been friendly to Stephens earlier when he was out in the fenced yard. After hearing the attack, Stephens' wife and friend rushed outside to help. The dog's jaws were clamped onto Stephens; the two tried to pry them loose. His wife was bitten on her fingers in the process. She also accidentally struck the dog owner's head with a hammer that she was using on the dog.

"Stephens’ injuries were massive," states The Record. Garcia said Harley's owner has cooperated with the investigation, according to reports by deputies. Garcia called the attack an "unfortunate accident." Deputies shot Harley to death after arriving on scene. The two younger offspring pit bulls involved in the deadly attack are still in quarantine. It is unknown if they will be given back to their owner. The sheriff’s office is still waiting on an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

06/05/16: Pit Bull Kills Man in Stockton
Stockton, CA - On Saturday, a pit bull killed a man in Stockton, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s department. Deputies were called to a home on the 500 block of North Gertrude Avenue about 4 pm Saturday. Authorities identified the victim as Earl Stephens Jr., 43-years old. He was bleeding from multiple dog bite injuries when deputies arrived. Officers shot and killed the pit bull in order to reach Stephens. The dog was loose and aggressive in the yard, authorities said.

Neighbors told KCRA that Stephens was visiting a friend who owned the pit bull, when the dog started attacking him. Both Stephens' wife and the dog's owner intervened, trying to get the dog off Stephens, but the dog then turned on its owner. The owner was also breeding pit bulls. Two pit bull puppies also attacked Stephens, according to neighbors. Deputies arrived and shot and killed the adult pit bull. Stephens was transported to a local hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

More Details in Evening Report

Fox 40 reported new information in an evening report. The pit bull that fatally attacked Stephens was a male dog named "Harley," according to neighbor Stephanie Steffens, who was visibly shaken during the interview. Neighbor Ryan Juarez, who lives down the street, also spoke to Fox 40. "I heard what sounded like fireworks," Juarez said. "When I came outside to check, there was about three sheriffs and animal control outside, and they were actually shooting the pit bull."

"EMT were trying to get him on the gurney. It looked like he was pretty much 'gone' because he had neck damage from the dog." - Ryan Juarez

These are predictable, fatal injuries inflicted by a pit bull. The dog executes the killing bite by ripping out the victim's neck. Severed carotid artery, severed jugular and "crushing" injuries to the spinal cord and cervical spine commonly occur in fatal pit bull maulings. Horrifically, just moments before the lethal attack, the pit bull was sitting on the victim's lap, Steffens said. When Ray, the dog's owner, told the dog, "Come on Harley, get off his lap," the pit bull went crazy, Steffens said.

2013 Pit Bull Fatality in Stockton

In 2013, Claudia Gallardo, 38-years old, was brutally killed by a pit bull on the 400 block of North Lillian Avenue in Stockton, less than a half-mile away from where Stephens was killed. Claudia was also visiting the dog owner's home at the time of the deadly attack. The owner of that pit bull, Brian Hrenko, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and keeping a mischievous animal that killed a person. It was the first fatal dog mauling case ever prosecuted in San Joaquin County.

Earl Stephens Jr. is the 493rd American killed by a pit bull. The 297th since the CDC stopped collecting breed information in 1998. The fatal pit bull attack archive will surpass 500 this year.

map iconView the DogsBite.org Google State Map: California Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

east stockton pit bull attack

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