Posted on September 21, 2014 by Colleen Lynn

Pit Bull Owner Convicted in Mauling Deaths of Two Men

One victim, David Glass Sr., standing with his daughter Marietta Glass.

15 Years in Jail
UPDATE 03/08/18: A man will spend 15 years in prison after this pack of pit bulls killed two grown men in 2014. Eric Hodges, 35 of Lamar, was found guilty on two counts of manslaughter in February for the deaths of Derrick Sanders, 45, and David Glass Sr., 50. Sanders was found dead in a ditch off Highway 7 with grisly injuries on July 4. Glass was also found in a ditch with mauling injuries in September. He was airlifted to Regional One Medical Center in Memphis where he died.

The Benton County Sheriff's Office initially believed Sanders' dog mauling death was a homicide. When Glass was discovered under similar conditions 2.5 months later, they connected the two deaths to Hodges pit bulls that he turned loose to roam at night. Thursday morning in Ashland, a judge handed down a 20-year sentence with five years suspended on each count and ordered Hodges to serve the sentences concurrently. Eric Hodges will spend 15 years in a state prison.

02/22/18: Double Pit Bull Homicide
A Lamar man has been convicted in the deaths of two people killed by his pit bulls. Eric Hodges, 35, was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter. Hodges will be sentenced on March 8. In September 2014, up to six of Hodges' pit bulls killed David Glass Sr., who was found critically injured lying in a ditch. Glass died the next day. Derrick Sanders, 45, was found lying in a ditch in the same area with similar injuries on July 4, 2014, but he was already dead when discovered.

At that time, the Benton County Sheriff's Office said they were investigating Sanders' death as a homicide, not a dog mauling.

After learning of Sander's death in September 2014, we kept notes of both crime scene and injury descriptions. Glass was "chewed up pretty bad, marks all over him, left ear torn off, clothes torn off, shoes torn off," said AA "Arnie" McMullen, the sheriff of Benton County. Sanders' "throat was split. He has a wide cut by the neck. He was shot several times. They cut his ear off. They beat him badly," his sister said ... "they also saw his clothing scattered across their front yard."

What was eerily similar to us then -- identical deaths occurring two months apart in the tiny community of Lamar, Mississippi -- did turn out to be two separate fatal pit bull maulings inflicted by the same dogs. Hodges was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter in connection to the deaths of David Glass and Derrick Sanders. It has taken four years for this case to come to trial. Investigators must have matched DNA from one of the pit bulls to Sanders' body or clothing.

The location of both fatal pit bull attacks occurred at the intersection of Highway 7 and Sexton Road. News footage shows the same area for both fatal dog maulings. Hodges' and his pit bulls lived very close by. Readers can see that the first fatal dog attack was mistaken by the Benton County Sheriff's Office and locals, initially, as a brutal murder and a "body dumping." But it was a canine homicide by Hodges' six pit bulls that he allowed to run loose in the community at night.

09/25/14: Ex-Wife Recounts Events
The South Reporter spoke with the victim's ex-wife, Patricia Glass. She said that David Glass Sr. visited her Friday night for a few hours. A friend picked him up at about 12:30 am. Glass was likely dropped off at Sexton Road and Highway 7, she said. Eric Hodges, the owner of the pit bulls, lives in the first house on one side of the intersection. Glass Sr. lived in the second house on the other side. Glass Sr. was found lying in a ditch opposite to Hodges' home just before dawn Saturday.

[Patricia Glass] said David Glass Sr. was severely bitten by the dogs. He apparently had protected his face with his hands, but had lost an ear, she said. Additionally, his arms were bitten multiple times and the main arteries in both arms were lacerated. He was also bitten multiple times on the legs and all over his body, she said. Patricia Glass, The South Reporter, September 25, 2014

Patricia said her ex-husband was friends with everyone along the road and the dogs likely knew him as well. Both she and Benton County Sheriff Arnie McMullen said it was common in the county for residents to walk from one house to another on the road at night. Patricia had been married to Glass Sr. for 19-years and the couple had three children together, Germaine, 19, Marietta, 22, and David Glass Jr., 24. "He was extremely loved and will be truly missed," she said.

09/22/14: Manslaughter Charges
The DJournal.com reports new information. David Glass Sr. was attacked by three pit bulls at about 1 am Saturday morning, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office. He was found four hours later. Glass Sr. was able to give Sheriff Arnie McMullen an account of what happened. The attack occurred at Sexton Road and Highway 7 in Lamar. The owner of the pit bulls, Eric Hodges, was arrested and charged with culpable negligent manslaughter in connection to his death.

Glass Sr. died of his injuries Sunday afternoon after being airlifted to Regional Medical Center at Memphis in critical condition.

Later this afternoon, WMC Action News 5 provided more information. A passing driver discovered Glass Sr. in a ditch by his house covered in bite injuries. The victim had been lying there for up to four hours. Glass Sr. told investigators he was walking to a friend's grave before the attack. Authorities seized three loose pit bulls then went to the dog owner's home and seized three more pit bulls that were tied up. The dogs are undergoing tests to see which ones attacked Glass Sr.

The victim's family members still have many unanswered questions, but are currently still in shock, trying to come to grips with his mauling death. His son, David Glass Jr., drove up from Starkville to be with his father after being airlifted to a Memphis hospital. Family members thought he would survive. His daughter, Marietta Glass said, "It hasn't really set in that my dad's gone and I'll never, never get a chance to talk to him again." His shaken family is now preparing for his funeral.

Benton County currently has no leash law; the sheriff hopes to pass a new ordinance. The county should consider banning pit bulls all together, given their strategic location for dogfighting activities (a rural county 50-miles from Memphis) and the senseless horrific death of Glass Sr. that leaves behind three grieving children. Several Mississippi counties have already placed restrictions on pit bulls including, Bolivar County, Carroll County, Hinds County, Leflore County and Rankin County.

View Related video

09/21/14: Man Dies After Pit Bull Attack
Benton County, MS - In a developing story, WREG reports that a man who was attacked by a pack of dogs yesterday has died. David Glass1 was severely mauled by a pack of pit bulls in Benton County, Mississippi Saturday morning. The attack occurred off Highway 7. Glass was airlifted to Regional Medical Center in critical condition after the attack. Glass died Sunday afternoon. Benton County borders the Tennessee state line. No other news reports have so far been located online.

Major Dogfighting Bust in 2013

On Easter Sunday last year, law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions broke up a national dogfighting event in Benton County. The raid ended in gunfire, multiple arrests and the seizure of 26 dogs. A fight match was in progress when officers arrived to a crowd of about 200 spectators. Officers arrested over 50 people and called the bust one of the five largest dogfighting operations in the country. The location of the bust was about 6-miles northeast of Ashland off Highway 72.

The Benton County Sheriff's Office now must contend with a pack of pit bulls that killed a man.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Mississippi Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

1The first name of the victim was initially reported as Daniel.

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Colleen Lynn

Criminal Trial: Michigan Couple Pleads to Felony Manslaughter Charge After Cane Corsos Brutally Kill Jogger

The owners of two cane corsos that killed a jogger are sentenced to prison time.

Couple Sentenced
UPDATE 07/14/15: Today a Lapeer County judge sentenced the owners of two cane corsos that mauled a jogger to death last year. Sebastiano Quagliata, 46, and his wife, Valbona Lucaj, 45, were sentenced to 57 months to 15 years in prison, which is just shy of 5-years behind bars. The couple's cane corsos had attacked two victims before fatally attacking Craig Systma, 46, on July 23, 2014 as he jogged down a rural road. The two may face deportation upon release from jail.

The couple was originally charged with second-degree murder and harboring a dangerous animal causing death. In April, both defendants pleaded no-contest to the lesser charge of harboring a dangerous animal causing death, a 15-year felony. At that time, Lapeer County Prosecutor Tim Turkelson predicted a sentence of 19 to 38 months. The sentence that Judge Nick Holowka handed down today was much higher. Both defendants have already served nearly a year in jail.

"This court cannot imagine a death more miserable or gruesome than suffered by the victim Mr. Sytsma." - Lapeer County Chief Circuit Judge Nick Holowka

Before sentencing, both defendants apologized to the court and Craig's parents, Richard and Jacqui Sytsma, gave emotional victims' impact statements. "This has been a tragedy for all of us," Jacqui said, struggling through tears. "But we have to be accountable for what happened ... this was the third time the dogs had been involved in something like this. And the third time the dogs took a life," she said. Her husband Richard told the court, "This could have been prevented."

Currently, Craig's parents are trying to advance legislation that will prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening to someone else. They hope to see the legislation re-introduced this summer.

04/24/15: Plea Deal Reached, Trial Averted
Both defendants charged with second-degree murder in the horrific dog mauling death of Craig Sytsma last July have accepted a plea agreement. On Friday, Sebastiano Quagliata and Valbona Lucaj pleaded no contest to harboring a dangerous animal causing death, a charge that carries up to 15-years in prison. A second-degree murder conviction by a jury carried a life in prison possibility. Lapeer County Prosecutor Tim Turkelson predicts a sentence of 19 to 38 months.

The husband and wife were charged with second-degree murder after their two cane corsos brutally killed 46-year old Craig Sytsma who was jogging on a road near their Metamora home on July 23, 2014. The dogs had a history of previous attacks and escaping their pen. Turkelson said that after an evidentiary hearing last week, some evidence could not be used. "[The rulings] made it more complicated," he said. "It made it, quite frankly, a less strong second-degree murder case."

"I think that we had a solid second-degree murder case. Once, however, the judge made some of the evidentiary rulings, that the court made, it made it more complicated. It made it, quite frankly, a less strong second-degree murder case. That's why we felt that the appropriate resolution was a plea to count two. That would ensure that they would take responsibility for what they did to Craig and also ensure they went to prison. We felt that was the most appropriate resolution under the circumstances. We discussed this with the victim's family. Ultimately they were in agreement with our decision. That's why we went forward today with that resolution." - Lapeer County Prosecutor Tim Turkelson

On Friday, the immigration status of the two was still murky. Mlive.com first reported that the two admitted they were illegal immigrants then removed this assertion from their headline.1 Reports that the couple was facing "imminent" deportation at the time of the attack arose about a week after Sytsma's death. Turkelson said that after sentencing, he would submit all information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Federal action could result, he said, including deportation.

Defense attorney Jason Malkiewicz has repeatedly stated that his clients are not illegal immigrants. In Friday's report from the Detroit Free Press, Malkiewicz said the two are "lawfully present in the U.S., they are just not citizens." Glenn Saltsman, the attorney representing the family of the victim, was quick to clarify however, "Because they don't have immigration status, they can be deported when their sentences are completed. That's a serious consequence."

The sentencing is scheduled for June 8. Sytsma's family is expected to speak at the hearing.

09/13/14: Couple Bound Over for Trial
At the end of the preliminary examination on Friday, Lapeer County District Judge Laura Barnard ordered the couple bound over to face trial in a circuit county court. Sebastiano Quagliata and Valbona Lucaj will stand trial for second-degree murder and harboring a dangerous animal causing death after their two cane corsos viciously attacked and killed a jogger on July 23. The couple will be arraigned on September 22. The bond for each defendant remains at $500,000.

Prosecutors showed through witness testimony and evidence that the couple knew the dogs were dangerous and could attack or kill. They also showed that the owners knew the dogs had a habit of escaping their pen. On Friday, Lapeer County Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Jason Parks testified that Quagliata told him after the death of Craig Sytsma that his dogs had escaped their pen numerous times. Judge Barnard clearly believed the two had knowledge their dogs were dangerous animals.

"This is a very difficult situation for everyone for involved. Each of the parties did create a high risk of death by their behavior or lack of behavior." - Lapeer County District Judge Laura Barnard

Animal Control Testimony

The defense called Lapeer County Animal Control Chief Carla Frantz to testify about her knowledge of the two previous attacks in 2012 and 2013. The defense asked why the dogs were not taken away then? Frantz testified that she did the investigation in 2012 and another officer investigated the 2013 biting incident. "It was a year-and-a-half between bites," Frantz said. "There were no other complaints." She added that at that time, the owners were "very cooperative."

DogsBite.org interjects here by adding: Of course the owners were cooperative, they wanted to get their papered, breeding cane corsos back. Were Quagliata and Lucaj cooperative with the victims too? Since both victims filed civil lawsuits against them, we presume they were not. Recall that Quagliata also pleaded with the second victim, "don't call the cops" and offered him a financial bribe. Neither of the pair showed up for a court hearing involving the 2013 bite victim either.

The Detroit Free Press has additional information about testimony given by Frantz. She testified that "her department had no record-keeping method to keep track of dogs that repeatedly bite people," according to the Free Press. Despite two separate biting incidents, apparently because they were 1.5 years apart, Frantz saw no reason to pursue a dangerous dog designation. Then Frantz whips herself into a contradiction that defense will surely use during the actual trial.

When she heard about the fatal mauling on July 23, she testified, "I knew of the address. I was not really surprised because of the breed of the dogs." - Lapeer County Animal Control Chief Carla Frantz

DogsBite.org understands that wires get crossed, particularly when an agency, operating like a third world country, had "no record-keeping method" to track repeat biters. We wish we could see the transcript of this hearing to better evaluate the context of Frantz's testimony. Given these limitations, it appears Frantz had no concern after the second bite or lacked knowledge of it.2 But after learning of the fatal attack, Frantz quickly connected these dogs to it due to their breed.

Animal Control Breakdown

While animal control officers often have their hands tied due to poor local, county or state laws, there is no question that many fatal and serious dog attacks are the result of negligence on the part of animal control (difficult to prove in court, however, see: piercing governmental immunity). It is important to point out that early on in this case, the animal control agency in the neighboring county of Oakland said they would have asked for a review by prosecutors after the second bite.

Lapeer County Prosecutor Tim Turkelson says his office was never notified of vicious dogs biting pedestrians and roaming free in Metamora Township and would have taken action before two of those dogs killed a jogger last week.

“Unfortunately, there were red flags all over the place,” Turkelson said in a phone interview this morning. Had his office been notified by Lapeer County Animal Control of repeated attacks, he said, he would have taken action to have the dogs destroyed.
--- snip ---

At that point [after the second bite] animal control officers could have taken the matter to the prosecutor, arguing a pattern of dangerous behavior. “They never notified us,” Turkelson said. - Lapeer County Prosecutor Tim Turkelson, July 29, Detroit Free Press

09/04/14: Police Reports Released
Lapeer, MI - On July 23, Craig Sytsma was brutally killed by two cane corsos with a history of aggression while jogging on a rural Metamora Township road. The dogs' owners, Sebastiano Quagliata and Valbona Lucaj, were subsequently charged with second-degree murder and possessing an animal causing death. A preliminary examination has been unfolding to determine if there is enough evidence for the couple to stand trial. Testimony continues on September 12.

The examination began with testimony from the couple's veterinarian on August 15. Shelley Wallace examined two adult cane corsos owned by the pair three months before Sytsma's death. She testified that she found both dogs to be "aggressive" and "dangerous" and warned their owners that they needed to seek help from an animal behaviorist. It took three people to pin each dog, both muzzled, against a wall for her to perform a 15-second exam due to their aggression.

After two separate examinations of dogs Toni and Princess, Wallace talked with owner Valbona Lucaj about the dogs' aggression.

I told the owner I felt the dogs were very aggressive and may be dangerous," she said during a preliminary examination in Lapeer County District Court for Lucaj, a native of Albania, and her husband Sebastiano Quagliata, a native of Italy. - Shelley Wallace, veterinarian, Mlive.com, August 15, 2014

The two adult cane corsos that Wallace examined that day were Toni and Princess. It was Toni and Julia, however, that attacked and killed Craig Sytsma. The couple owned three adult cane corsos, a 4-month old and seven cane corso young puppies. The three adults were euthanized and the eight remaining dogs were shipped to a rescue in Austin, Texas. According to prosecutors, each papered cane corso was sterilized before being shipped to this out-of-state jurisdiction.3

If readers recall, at the time of Sytsma's death, Quagliata and Lucaj were attempting to sell the young puppies on Hoobly.com. Along with advertising the puppies for sale, the couple included the International Cane Corso Federation (ICCF) papers of the sire and dam: Toni (born April 26, 2013) and Julia (born December 31, 2010). According to testimony by Wallace, at the ripe age of 1-year old, she ranked Toni a whopping 9.5 on a scale of 10 in his aggression; she ranked Princess 9.

View a photograph of the defendants' three adult cane corsos (DogsBite.org added the names).

At the time of the April 2014 veterinary examination, one or more of these dogs had already attacked two people on the same rural Metamora Township road. April Smith, 25 of Oxford, was attacked in May 2012 and resident Jim Salego, 73, was attacked in November 2013. Both filed civil lawsuits. Lucaj did not reveal to Wallace during the 2014 examination either of these prior biting incidents. Wallace noted in the files of both dogs, "DWB," which stands for "Dogs Will Bite."

Testimony by Neighbors & Victims

When neighbors Edward Elmer and his girlfriend, Helen Barwig, rushed to help Sytsma that day, the victim already knew that he was dying. Elmer testified, "At first I did not know what I was seeing. Then I realized it was the jogger with two dogs hanging from him." Elmer had waved to Sytsma only moments before when he saw him jogging as he mowed his lawn. He yelled to Barwig and ran and got a gun, firing once into the air and three times at the dogs. One shot hit.

Elmer’s girlfriend, Helen Barwig, a trained EMT technician and first responder, ran to Sytsma to try to save him, applying a tourniquet to his shoulder and using paper towels to stop the bleeding. He was “pouring” blood, she said, and begging her to save him.

“Then he reached and grabbed my arm, and then he went limp,” she testified.

Sytsma’s family members wept quietly in the front row of the courtroom as she testified. - Detroit Free Press, Aug. 29, 2014

Both victims previously attacked by the cane corsos owned by the couple also testified. One of the dogs, presumably Julia, attacked April Smith on May 14, 2012 as she walked with her sister and her sister's dogs down Thomas Road. The dog began following them as they passed by the owner's home. The loose dog then attacked Smith, biting her three times. "It latched on and broke away all three times," she said. Smith sued the owners and was awarded a $20,000 judgment.

Dog Owner Offered Victim a Bribe

Jim Salego who was attacked on November 21, 2013 while walking along Thomas Road also testified. Salego told a packed courtroom that three of the large dogs came "flying down the hill," as fast as they could run. "They began to circle me," he said, "I had my stick going back and forth trying to get them off me." After he was bitten in the leg, Quagliata came out of the house and called his dogs off. "He said, 'Don't call the cops; I'll pay you money,'" Salego recalled.

Salego ignored the bribe and instead whipped out his phone and dialed 911 and told him, "'Yes, I am calling police. I have blood running down my leg.'" Both Quagliata and Lucaj are currently under investigation by U.S. federal officials after Lucaj paid a $3,000 bribe to an immigration officer in 1997 to grant her asylum, according to federal court filings. At the time of Sytsma's death, the couple had been facing "imminent deportation." The couple's defense attorneys deny this.

Quagliata and Lucaj have separate defense attorneys in connection to the death of Sytsma. Lucaj and their three children were in Boston at the time of the fatal mauling. Lucaj still knew about the veterinarian's warning three months before his death and the previous bite victims in 2012 and 2013. Neither of the pair showed up for a court hearing involving the 2013 bite case either. For these reasons, and likely others, prosecutors chose to charge both with second-degree murder.

After the mauling death of Diane Whipple in 2001, prosecutors also charged a husband and wife pair, Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller, even though Noel was not present when the dogs fatally attacked. A grand jury indicted Knoller for second-degree murder and indicted them both for involuntary manslaughter and felony charges of keeping a mischievous dog. A jury found the couple guilty on all charges in 2002. Knoller is currently serving her sentence in a state prison.

Testimony Resumes in September

Examination testimony resumes on September 12. Thus far, a significant amount of evidence has been presented that shows the dogs' owners had full knowledge of their dogs' viciousness. Does the evidence also succeed to show the couple had a wanton disregard for human life? Police records indicate that Quagliata also had full knowledge that his powerful dogs repeatedly dug out of their chain-link kennel. On the evening of Sytsma's death, Quagliata told sheriff's investigators:

"Quatliata stated that the dogs dig under the kennel and escape(ed)," the report stated. "Quatliata stated that this occurred numerous times prior (would not give a number when asked) and that was how they were escaping from the kennel." - Mlive.com, August 15, 2014

Lastly, at least one buyer of a puppy from Quagliata and Lucaj has testified so far. After Robert Pitcavage heard about the fatal attack, he contacted police. He purchased a puppy from the couple in July for $900. Just prior to paying, he said he wanted to meet the parents of the puppy. "I was really disturbed," he testified. "Walking up there I noticed the pen and the structure of the chain length fence was torn up." The dogs then attacked the cyclone fence as he stood there.

"It literally grabbed on the fence," he said. "I didn't realize the strength of their jaws." Poor naïve Pitcavage then testified that his dog -- presumably a 3 to 4-month old "puppy" -- is well-tempered and that his family has not had any issues with the dog. Yet, puppies are puppies and usually have no way of being adequately tested for aggression until they reach adulthood, which is at least 12-months old, preferably 18-months of age. Pitcavage is not out of the woods in our opinion!

1This was not a small error, or perhaps more kindly, a small misunderstanding. A primary angle of the April 24, 2015 Mlive.com article (previous to revisions) was their immigration status. The former title of the article was, "Illegal immigrants reach plea deal in dog-mauling death of jogger in Lapeer County."
2An ABC 12 news clip shows Frantze answering the question: "Is it safe to say that someone's dog could have bitten someone 6, 7, 8, 9 times and Lapeer County Animal Control would not have knowledge of the previous bites if a different officer handled it?" Frantze states, "Correct." Such arcane practices by animal control agencies are inexcusable. Then to use this poor record keeping as a "defense" after a person is mauled to death, holy wow!
3Cane Corso Rescue Inc.

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Colleen Lynn

U.S. Fatal Dog Attacks Continue to Rise from Previous Years (January 1, 2014 to August 13, 2014)

Snapshot Summary Report
DogsBite.org - In the first 225 days of this year, 28 Americans were killed by dogs. On average, a fatal attack was inflicted by a canine every 8 days in the U.S. since January 1. Pit bulls and their mixes are responsible for 71% (20) of these deaths. Pit bulls alone have an average kill rate of every 11 days during this period. Followed by two other large molosser breeds, rottweilers (7%) and bullmastiffs (7%), each inflicting 2 deaths. Four dog breeds each inflicted one death.1

In contrast, by August 13, 2013, there were 18 fatalities. In the same period for 2012 and 2011, there were 20 and 18 deaths, respectively. If the current rate persists, an estimated 46 fatal attacks will occur in 2014.

During the recent 3.5-week period of July 19 to August 13, pit bulls killed 6 Americans. 83% (5) were children ages 6 and under and 67% (4) involved a babysitter watching the child, including one case where a babysitter was brutally killed in front of a 2-year old child. Of all fatal attacks since January 1, babysitters were present in 21% (6) of these attacks and 29% (8) involved the victim either visiting or living temporarily with the dog's owner when the fatal attack occurred.2

During the first 225 days of 2014, Texas led all states in fatalities with 21% (6); regionally, the Southern United States led with 61% (17). Alabama, Florida and Ohio followed, each with 3 fatalities. In the 9-year period of 2005 to 2013, Alabama had 6 total recorded dog bite fatalities; 3 so far in 2014 is a substantial rise. In Ohio, all 3 fatal dog attacks occurred in the southwestern part of the state (25-miles apart) in a 6-month period and 2 deaths occurred in the city of Dayton.

Regarding criminal charges, Harris County, Texas stunned DogsBite.org followers in July after finally bringing charges under the state felony law that was enacted in 2007. More notably, in what may be the most watched and analyzed fatal dog mauling trial since the death of Diane Whipple in 2001, prosecutors in Michigan filed second-degree murder charges and a felony count of possessing an animal causing death against a couple after their two dogs brutally killed a jogger.

Snapshot Summary Report

Located centrally, the snapshot shows the Large Molosser Breeds group. This small group has inflicted 93% (26) of attacks resulting in death during this period and includes: pit bulls, rottweilers, American bulldogs, mastiff/bullmastiff, presa canarios and cane corsos. Dog breeds displayed in the first two rows of the snapshot are based upon the top killing dog breeds of the last 9-years (See related chart). Thus, not all fatally attacking breeds in 2014 are shown in the snapshot.3

Photographs of six dogs from the Large Molosser Breeds group that killed a person in 2014.

Texas Dog Bite Victims' Advocacy - Join our Texas email list to stay informed

1Responsible for one death so far in 2014: cane corso, catahoula leopard, German shepherd and a mastiff-mix.
2When "reverse" scenarios are included this number is much higher, 39%. So far this year, 3 cases involved the dog temporarily living at the victim's home when the attack occurred, including the deaths of Je'vaeh Mayes (Texas), Dorothy Hamilton (Texas) and Cindy Whisman (Ohio).
3The snapshot represents a small portion of a much larger Excel data set.

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Colleen Lynn

South florida boy killed by father's pit bulls

From top left: Javon Dade Jr., the crime scene, suspect #1 and the "breed labeling game."

Father Pleads Guilty
UPDATE 03/02/15: Javon Dade Sr. pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter on the day his trial was set to begin in connection to the mauling death of his son. Last summer, Javon Dade Jr. was savagely killed by his father’s illegal pit bull and pit bull-mixes at the home Javon Sr. shared with his girlfriend, Alessandra Carrasco, as the two slept off a narcotics hangover. Javon Sr. will serve 4-years in prison under the plea agreement. A jury trial conviction could have resulted in 30-years.

"There is no equity when the victim is a 4-year-old mauled in horrible circumstances by a pack of dogs." - Assistant State Attorney Santiago Aroca

Part of the plea agreement required that Javon Sr. provide a public apology to the deceased boy’s mother, Doreen Reyes, and to take full responsibility for his actions. Reyes was overwhelmed with grief and cried while Javon Sr.’s attorney read his apology letter to the courtroom. Javon Sr. will begin serving his prison sentence on March 16. The plea agreement also requires that he testify against Carrasco, 26, who is also charged with manslaughter in connection to Javon Jr.'s death.

09/11/14: Manslaughter Charges Filed archived
Miami-Dade prosecutors have charged both Javon Dade Sr. and his girlfriend, 26-year old Alessandra Carrasco, with manslaughter charges -- the emphasis placed on Carrasco. According to prosecutors, it was Carrasco who brought the dogs onto the property and who leased the property. Furthermore, it was Carrasco who was in charge of Javon Jr. at the time of his death. Carrasco did not appear in court today. Both defendants are expected to stand trial in November.

08/22/14: Father, Girlfriend Arrested
Miami-Dade Police have arrested and charged two people in connection to the mauling death of 4-year old Javon Dade Jr. On August 13, Javon was first reported missing by his father then discovered dead in the backyard of his father's home by police a short time later. One or more of his father's pit bulls had attacked and killed him. On Friday, his father, Javon Dade Sr., 30, and his father's girlfriend, Alessandra Carrasco, 26, were arrested and charged with child neglect.

According to Dade's arrest report, he picked up his son from his mother's home about 9:30 pm the night before the attack and returned to his home. After his son fell asleep, Dade and Carrasco "began smoking several marijuana cigarettes laced with cocaine," according to the report. When his father and Carrasco woke up the next morning, about 9:00 am, Javon Jr. was nowhere to be found. Police said the front door of the home was locked, but the rear sliding glass door was not.

Notably, now that the police report has been released to the media, we see a distinct language change regarding breeds of dogs. The 5 dogs in question are now being called "pit bull-mixes." The breed labeling game by Miami-Dade Animal Services -- who offered up four different breed names for these dogs, none being "pit bull-mix" -- is now over. This may be due to the fact that the boy's death now involves criminal charges of child neglect and is now fully under police control.1

CBS Miami also spoke to the boy's paternal grandmother, Jocelyn Dade. She said that both her son and his girlfriend have drug problems (as noted in Javon Sr.'s extensive criminal arrests and convictions). Jocelyn also said that the white dogs "grew up" with Javon Jr. but the adult male pit bull -- already euthanized due to aggression -- was a new dog her son had gotten from a neighbor. The related video shows Javon Sr. collapsing to the ground upon learning of his son's death.

08/18/14: DCF Knew of the Pit Bulls
CBS Miami reports that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) was warned that the pit bulls posed a danger to Javon Dade Jr. and his siblings 3-years before one or more of these dogs fatally attacked the boy. According to documents obtained by CBS Miami and their news partners, in March 2011, DCF received a complaint from a neighbor about the "smell" and "feces" and "danger" of the six dogs, two being pit bulls, living in the family's home (See: DCF document).

At that time, Javon Jr., 6-months old, and his two siblings lived with his two parents. The March 2011 DCF narrative in part reads: "There are about six dogs living inside the apartment … the dogs urinate on the floor and the children are frequently on the floor … Two of the dogs are pit bulls … There is concern for the safe care of the children in the home." The DCF report also mentions an incident a year earlier when both parents were bitten trying to break up a dog fight.

When DCF officials confronted the mother, Doreen Reyes, about the allegations, she denied them, claiming to only own three dogs, none of which were pit bulls. At that time, the family was living in Miami-Dade County. DCF failed to contact Animal Services about the dogs being kept illegally by the family. Would it matter if they had though, given that Animal Services is so quick to mislabel any pit bull-type dogs as a terrier-boxer mix, terrier-mix or American bulldog-Labrador mix?

Two of the dogs are pit bulldogs,” the DCF report added. If the DCF investigator knew that it is illegal to keep pit bulls in Miami-Dade County, there is no mention of it, and no indication that animal services was informed of the situation.

The DCF probe concluded that Javan and his siblings were in a “moderate to high” risk environment, yet no action was taken to remove the children or the dogs. DCF investigators spoke with teachers, daycare workers and a doctor who said the children appeared healthy and well dressed. - CBS Miami

Finally, the DCF report spells out part of the father's extensive criminal record. (We checked this last week as soon as his name was released by searching the Miami-Dade County criminal court website.) Javon Dade Sr., has a history of drug offenses involving cocaine and marijuana; a perfect pairing with running an illegal pit bull breeding operation out of his home. By June of 2011, the parents had split up with Javon Jr. living primarily with his mother and visiting his father.

Summary of DCF Investigations

DCF knew about the pit bulls, which are illegal to own in Miami-Dade County and have been since 1989, but DFC did not know about the county ordinance? Second, DCF documents state that on August 13, "Javon Jr. was mauled to death by the father's pit bull dog." So it will now be harder for Animal Services to mislabel the dog(s) as terrier-mixes or bulldog-mixes, ad nauseam. Finally, if DCF had properly followed up and the breed ban enforced, Javon Dade Jr. would still be alive.

08/15/14: Memorial Grows for Victim
Javon Dade Jr. was visiting his father at the time of his violent mauling death. The boy lives with his mother, Doreen Reyes, and his brother in Palmetto Bay. The two parents are no longer together. Friends of Doreen recently defended her on the Local 10 Facebook page. Doreen also commented: "I brought my kids up in a Godly home and I'm leaving it up to him to get us through this tragedy. So please have compassion for my family and my other son through this time."

CBS Miami reports other social media comments. Beryl wrote to Javon's grandmother (maternal or paternal is unknown): "I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THESE DOGS PITBULLS KILLING OUR BABIES. OH GOD HAVE MERCY SAVE OUR BABIES. WORDS CAN NOT EXPRESS HOW THIS FAMILY FEELS RIGHT NOW." Beryl may be referring to the fact that three young boys, ages 4 to 6, have been brutally mauled to death by family pit bulls in Florida in the past four weeks.

A family friend has set up a fund for Doreen and her mother to help them through this loss.

08/14/14: Landlord Update; AC on Record
Kenneth Darbin, the landlord and owner of the property, told CBS Miami yesterday that he warned his tenants a week ago that they had seven days to remove the dogs or face eviction. The day of the fatal attack was the seventh day of his warning, according to reporter Lauren Pastrana who spoke to him. When later reached by phone, he claimed, "They snuck the dogs on the property." The boy’s father had only been living in the house for a little over two months, Narbin said.

New Breed Name -- Will It Stick?

Beginning with Miami-Dade Animal Services labeling 5 of the dogs "labrador-pit bull mixes," then broadening this to "terrier-boxer mixes" finally, Kathleen Labrada, the spokesperson for Animal Services went on record with WSVN last night calling the 5 dogs "American bulldog-Labrador retriever mixes." (We've underlined the first name, which is the predominant breed.) Labrada also admitted that the puppies are too young to properly evaluate, but still called them "terrier-mixes."

"A total of six dogs were removed from the scene. Three adults which appear to be American Bulldog and Labrador Retriever mixes, and one pit bull," said a spokesperson Kathleen Labrada of Animal Services. "The puppies appear to be terrier mixes. They are too young to evaluate, they are under six months of age. We're certainly hopeful that through DNA evidence and other evidence we're able to gather, that we will be able to confirm which dogs..." - Kathleen Labrada

When all else fails, labeling the dog an American bulldog-mix usually sticks. As explained in footnotes, there is no frantic labeling game (throw it until it sticks) about the breed of the number one suspect. If there were, if might get someone from Animal Services fired. It is still unknown, however, which of the adult dogs attacked or if all three did. Currently, Animal Services is trying to pawn off the two adult females (the white and tan dogs) as "American bulldog-Labrador mixes."

People who breed pit bulls, like to produce more pit bulls. The goal is not to produce litters of American bulldog-mixes or labrador-mixes. Therefore, they mate pit bulls with other pit bulls, a breed which certainly has a wide variance in colors and weight, but very little variance in the shape of the head. The white and tan dogs are predominantly pit bulls and any label should reflect this, such as "pit bull-mix" or "pit bull-American bulldog mix" or "pit bull-[insert breed name] mix."

Above: Thus far, Miami-Dade Animal Services have labeled 5 of the dogs three different names.

08/13/14: Landlord; Terrier-Mix Label
In an evening update from NBC Miami, the news team spoke to the landlord and owner of the home, Kenneth Narbin, who said that last week he gave the renters2 -- Javon Dade Sr., and his girlfriend -- seven days to remove the "pit bull dogs from the home." Miami-Dade County has banned the breed for over two decades. Despite this legal demand from their landlord, the boy's father kept the dogs along with his homespun pit bull breeding operation. Now his son is dead.

Before reading the Miami Herald update, it is important for readers to understand that the Herald strongly opposes the pit bull ban and urged the public in 2012 to vote to repeal it. The public shrugged off the Herald and voted by a wide margin to keep the ban. The main reason we link to the Herald now is to point out a disturbing new pit bull "mislabeling" trend. The new trend is to replace "pit bull" with "terrier," as was done on the adopted dog that viciously attacked Rita Pepe.

Twenty minutes later, police made a gruesome discovery: Javon had been mauled to death by dogs in the backyard of the Goulds home, his limp body found in the overgrown grass near a fence.

In the same yard: Two adult female terrier-boxer mixes, an adult male pit bull and three terrier-boxer mixed puppies between two and four months of age. - Miami Herald

The terrier group is a large list of breeds, of which the American pit bull terrier (aka American Staffordshire terrier) is grouped within by many major kennel clubs, along with the border terrier, rat terrier, west highland terrier, Scottish terrier and more. Under this "trending" misleading labeling treatment for pit bulls, a "pit bull-boxer mix" is simply a "terrier-boxer mix." which completely removes the pit bull name to unsuspecting adopters and for dog bite statistical tracking purposes.

Miami-Dade County Animal Services, who initially labeled five of the dogs as "labrador-pit bull mixes," then switched over to the broader "terrier-mix" label. The Herald immediately pushed this "revised" label. What is truly revolting is that Miami-Dade County Animal Services is tax-funded and under the mission to enforce the county pit bull ban. What the public knows now is that even in the case a fatal dog attack, this agency will "protect the breed" over their public safety duty.3

08/13/14: Dogs Seized, Photographed
Miami-Dade authorities seized and photographed a total of six dogs, three adults and three puppies. Authorities "speculate" that at least one adult pit bull may have been trying to protect the puppies when it unleashed a brutal attack killing the 4-year old boy. According to Animal Services, only one dog appeared to be aggressive, an adult male pit bull (top left). The rest of the dogs are allegedly "labrador-pit bull mixes," despite a female Labrador nowhere to be found on scene.4

Above: Local 10 published photos of all six dogs seized after the fatal attack of Javon Dade Jr.

08/13/14: Child Killed by Family Pit Bull
Goulds, FL - In a developing story, Miami-Dade Police confirm that a 4-year old boy was mauled to death by one or more of his family's dogs in Goulds this morning. The attack occurred in the fenced-in backyard of a home at 12301 SW 230th Street. Hovering news choppers at the scene spotted the boy's body covered in a yellow tarp lying in the middle of the backyard. Neighbors described the family's two dogs as being "very aggressive" and believe they are pit bulls.

This is the third little boy in Florida mauled to death by family dogs since July 19. The first two fatalities involved family pit bulls.

The CBS Miami video shows numerous first responder personnel and vehicles at the scene. Miami-Dade police also set up a "command post" near the scene. While writing this blog post, police identified the boy as Javon Dade Jr. and confirmed that three dogs were captured. The video suggests that at least one dog was shot. The investigation is ongoing. It is unknown what the circumstances of the attack were or if the boy was under adult supervision at the time.

WSVN offers additional information. In a press conference, Miami-Dade Police spokesperson Robin Pinkard said the call began as a missing child case. When police responded, they canvassed the area and made the horrific discovery. At least three dogs were captured. Police are still trying to determine who owed the dogs and if the dogs resided at the fenced property or broke into it. Animal control is conducting "a series of tests" to determine the breeds of dogs involved.

Police have been dispatched in search of the missing boy when they made the horrific discovery. "According to investigators, at approximately 10:09 this morning, police received a phone call advising of a missing 4-year-old male," said Pinkard. "As officers arrived they did an area canvas where they discovered a black male, 4 years of age, deceased in the backyard." WSVN.com

Finally, Local 10 News is now reporting the "predictable" pattern that the boy was "visiting" his father's home at the time of the fatal dog attack. Also, as of 1:45 pm Central time, a total of six dogs have been removed from the property. The father, along with his girlfriend, were at the home at the time of the fatal incident. As DogsBite.org readers know, Miami-Dade County has banned pit bulls since 1989. If the dogs are determined to be pit bulls, criminal fines or charges may follow.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Florida Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

1We imagine the DCF report helped as well.
2Only the video contained the phrase "last week." The print version did not.
3Amazingly, for legal purposes and otherwise, the #1 suspect, according to Miami-Dade County Animal Services, is the only dog being labled as a "pit bull." All of the other pit bulls and pit bull-mixes will get recycled back into the community under misleading terrier-mix names.
4Why would Miami-Dade Animal Services pull the "labrador-pit bull mix" stunt? Notably, the breed listed first is the predominant breed. First, it must be explained that puppies this young -- whose physical form has not filled out yet -- are often too young to be properly identified by breed. Second, when two pit bulls mate, this does not produce labrador-pit bull mix dogs. It produces pit bulls or pit bull-mix dogs depending upon the exact make up of each parent. Finally, Animal Services must falsely identify the puppies as anything but "predominantly pit bulls" or else, given the county pit bull ban, they can't adopt out the offspring of a fatally attacking pit bull to the public.

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