Posted on August 11, 2014 by Colleen Lynn

2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Toddler Dies After Attack by Family Pit Bull While Under Grandmother's Care

Heroic neighbor stopped the attack by stabbing the pit bull with a steak knife.

The Indictment
UPDATE 01/29/15: We received a copy of the indictment against Derek Solem. As we had hoped, it included more information. The dog was not listed as a Staffordshire terrier or pit bull-mix as several news groups stated in their coverage. The fatally attacking dog, named Martel, was a "pit bull terrier." In addition to Martel previously biting another child in the home and the clear (and disturbing) signs the animal posed a serious threat to Deriah, Martel was also dog aggressive.

On or about August 7, 2014 in the County of St. Charles, State of Missouri, the defendant knowingly acted in a manner that created a substantial risk to the life of D.S., a child less than seventeen years old, by keeping Martel, a pit bull, in the house, uncaged so that Martel had access to D.S., Martel had previously bitten [another child's] ear, that Martel didn't like babies, that Martel was aggressive with other dogs, that Martel constantly whined when the defendant would play with D.S., that Martel would urinate on only D.S.'s laundry, that Martel would tear up only D.S.'s things, that Martel would be kept in the defendant's bedroom at night with the door closed so Martel would not have access to D.S.'s room. - Indictment, Derek Solem, January 9, 2015, Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court, State of Missouri

01/28/15: Parents Charged in Death archived
In mid January, St. Charles County authorities arrested and charged the parents of a 22-month old child that was brutally killed by their family pit bull last August. Derek Martin Solem, 32, and Sharon D. Williams, 29, were charged with two felonies each, endangering the welfare of a child and owning a dog that bites a person resulting in death. A court date is set for February 23. No charges were initially expected by police, who called the child's mauling death a "tragic accident."

On August 7, Deriah Solem was under the care of her grandmother when the family's 10-year old pit bull -- usually kept locked in a back bedroom -- somehow managed to get out. The animal immediately attacked the toddler. The grandmother intervened and lost four fingertips trying to pry open the dog's jaws. Deriah Solem was transported to St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles and later transferred to Cardinal Glennon, where she died of her severe injuries on August 9.

There were no news reports after August 11. If readers recall, on August 9, in the neighboring jurisdiction of St. Louis County, a young man was shot and killed by a police officer that unleashed extended shock waves across the country and dominated local, state and national media. We believed at that time no additional information would ever be learned about this child's death. Unbeknownst to us, the St. Charles County Prosecutor's Office had been looking into the case.

"This was not simply a tragic accident; it was poor decision making by parents that led to the tragic death of a baby." - St. Charles Co. Prosecutor Tim Lohmar

The parents were released from jail after posting $25,000 bail. Both profess their innocence of the charges. An online fund was set up to help raise money for their defense costs. Derek Solem was no stranger to pit bulls. He formerly ran a pit bull kennel operation called Flaming Hot Kennel (2007). Remnants of a MySpace page are still online. At the time of the attack, the grandmother's Facebook profile image was a large white pit bull. It is unknown if that pit bull was the attacker.

According to the indictment, the pit bull that killed Deriah had previously bitten one of their other children in the ear. DogsBite.org has not seen the indictment, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch describes more of its contents, "The dog regularly destroyed Deriah’s belongings and was kept in a room at night so it couldn’t have access to her room, according to court documents. It also constantly whined when Solem played with the baby, and urinated on the baby’s laundry."

Lastly, we call attention to the language of the online fund created by Williams, the child's mother. She writes, "The dog had been part of the Solem family since 2004 and no one knows why he decided to snap that day." One, St. Charles County prosecutors will try to prove the parents did have knowledge of the dog's previous aggression. Two, we wish they did not have to since there are already decades of documented evidence about the dangerous unpredictability of pit bulls.

08/11/14: Family Pit Bull Kills Child
St. Charles County, MO - Officials confirmed on Monday that a 22-month old girl savagely attacked by her family pit bull-mix last Thursday while under the care of her grandmother has died. Deriah Solem was pronounced dead at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center on Saturday, according to the medical examiner's office. The cause of death was listed as injuries to her head and neck. At the time of the attack, her grandmother was babysitting Deriah and her two siblings.

The attack occurred at the family's home in the St. Charles Hills subdivision; the grandmother also lives at the home. According to police, the grandmother had just finished feeding the little girl and placed her onto the floor. When the family's 80-pound pit bull -- usually kept locked in a back bedroom -- somehow was able to get out. The dog immediatly attacked the toddler. The grandmother intervened and suffered the loss of four fingertips trying to pry open the dog's jaws.

As the attack continued, the grandmother shouted at her two brothers, ages 5 and 8 to flee the house. They ran next door to Jonathan Banta's home. Banta grabbed a steak knife and rushed over. He repeatedly stabbed the dog as it continued to attack Deriah. “I grabbed a steak knife -- that’s all I could find at the time -- went back over there, and the dog still wouldn’t get off, so I stabbed it multiple times,” Banta said. Eventually, the dog let go and collapsed behind a TV.

“I’m still kind of shook up,” he said. “There was a lot of blood, and stabbing a dog is not fun.” - Jonathan Banta

The girl was transported to St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles and later transferred to Cardinal Glennon. The initial Fox news coverage captures the horror of the attack.1 "She had multiple bites covering her whole body, but the most extensive ones were to the neck, stomach and head area … it was extremely urgent .. the blood loss on the child was extensive," Lt. Dave Tiefenbrunn said. The situation was so critical that there was a surgeon in the ambulance.

The family pit bull-mix had no reported history of attacks or biting, according to police, but family members told police the dog had shown aggressive behavior in the past. This may be why the dog was usually kept locked in a back bedroom? Despite this knowledge, as early as Friday, police said that no charges are expected to be filed in the case. Authorities are calling yet another child's horrific death by a family pit bull a "tragic accident." The 10-year old pit bull was euthanized.

1Scroll to see the second video at the Fox 2 Now news article.

Photos: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Fox 2 Now and Facebook.com

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Colleen Lynn

2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Visiting Child Killed by Aunt's Pit Bulls in Fanning Springs, Florida

Joel Chirieleison, 6-years old, was killed by two pit bulls on August 7.

Authorities Identify Child
UPDATE 08/08/14: Sheriff's officials have released the name of the young boy killed by two pit bulls while visiting his aunt's home. Joel Chirieleison, the son of Joel Claar and Kristy Chirieleison, had been staying at his aunt's house while his father was at work. The child's aunt, Heather Claar, took the 6-year old boy's father to work that morning then took Joel to her home to watch him. This arrangement had been going on for weeks, according to Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum.

Joel Chirieleison is the 250th American killed by pit bulls since the CDC stopped tracking dog bite fatality data by breeds in 1998.1

08/08/14: Child Dies in Aunt's Care
HardisonInk.com reported new information on Friday about the fatal pit bull mauling. The child had stayed at the home with his aunt and grandfather for the past three or four days before the attack, according to Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum. When he went outside to play about 8:15 am, two pit bulls, which live at the house, had been let out in the yard. At the time of the attack, the aunt was packing things so that she and the boy could visit her mother, the boy's grandmother.

In a video published by WCJB-TV on Thursday, the aunt is named as the owner of the two pit bulls. McCallum was also interviewed in the video. McCallum said, "He has been around [the dogs] for about a month. It is our understanding that the dogs had been in this family for a couple of years. There are other children in the household and there has never been any problem in the past with these dogs."
Names continue to be withheld until authorities can notify the boy's mother.

08/07/14: Attack Occurred Thursday
The Levy County Sheriff's Office has issued a press release stating that the 6-year old boy was attacked and killed by one or more dogs on Thursday. It was initially reported that the attack occurred on Tuesday. When responding deputies arrived on scene, the child was already dead. The child had injuries consistent with being attacked by a dog or dogs, according to the release. Animal control removed multiple dogs from the property. The investigation is ongoing.

This unnamed child marks the 250th American killed by pit bulls since the CDC stopped tracking dog bite fatality data by breeds in 1998.2

The Ocala StarBanner has also updated their news report. The 6-year old boy had played with his family's two pit bulls many times, but on Thursday morning the dogs suddenly attacked and killed him outside a Fanning Springs home. Before the attack, the boy's aunt had driven his father to work then taken the boy to the home she shares with the boy's grandfather. She let the boy go outside to play and the two dogs followed him. This was routine, according to authorities.

While the aunt and the grandfather were inside watching TV, the aunt looked outside and saw the boy lying in the driveway. She ran outside and the family called 911. First responders from multiple agencies arrived, but the boy was already dead. Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum said, "It appears right now to be a terrible tragedy." McCallum added that the dogs had never caused the family any problems before and that they were "well cared for" and current on all their shots.

Levy County Animal Control seized both pit bulls along with four other dogs on the property.

Visiting Children, Babysitters and Pit Bulls

Though information is still developing, it appears that once again, a child visiting the dog owner's home -- and often under the care of a babysitter at the time -- was mauled to death by the owner's pit bulls. The babysitters in this case were relatives watching the child while his father was at work. Most recently, other child fatality victims with similar scenarios include: 4-year old Kasii Haith (Delaware), 7-month old Jonathan Quarles Jr., (Ohio) and 4-year old Logan Sheppard (Florida).

08/07/14: Pit Bulls Kill Child
Fanning Springs, FL - In a developing story, two dogs attacked and killed a 6-year old child Tuesday morning. Despite already being two days later, few details are available, according to the Ocala StarBanner and Gainesville Sun.3 Levy County 911 Communications Center received a call at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday of a child attacked by two pit bulls at the park, according to the Levy County Department of Public Safety report. The child was already dead when first responders arrived.

Units from the Fanning Springs Fire Department, LCDPS, Medic 2 and Battalion 1, LCSO, and Levy County Animal Control responded to the scene. Assisting the family was a victims' advocate from the Levy County Sheriff's Office. The Dixie County chaplain and Marion County Debriefing Team were called in to assist the first responders and dispatchers involved. Fanning Springs has a population of 764 people and is located in Gilchrist and Levy counties, according to Wikipedia.

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

1,2Fatal Pit Bull Attacks - The Archival Record and Nonprofits Urge CDC to Resume Tracking Richer Data Set for Children and Adults Disfigured, Maimed and Killed by Dogs.
3One commenter is stating that the attack was Thursday morning and only involved one dog.

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Colleen Lynn

2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Ohio Woman, 59, Attacked and Killed by Her Daughter's Pit Bull

Cindy Whisman, 59-years old, was fatally attacked by her daughter's pet pit bull.

Pit Bull Euthanized
UPDATE 08/07/14: The pit bull that killed 59-year old Cindy Whisman was euthanized Thursday, according to Sgt. Melissa Gerhardt of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. The victim's daughter and owner of the dog, Julie Whisman, surrendered her male pit bull to the county Wednesday after the completion of the investigation by county sheriff's deputies. No charges will be filed at this time. Lt. Mike Craft said, "Detectives found no evidence that this dog had been aggressive in the past."

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones is interviewed in the video. "I've seen the body," he said. "There were a lot of bite marks on the upper body." Jones comments about pit bulls too. "Playing with fire. There may be nicer ones, but [pit bulls] have a tendency to kill people and maul people." Lastly, to clear up confusion about home ownership, Julie and her 2-year old son Marcus, began living with her mother and father two months ago. Cindy had known the dog for a number of years.

08/05/14: Death Ruled Accidental
The Butler County Coroner’s Office ruled the death of Cindy Whisman as accidental. The cause of death was "due to dog bites." Whisman was mauled across her face, neck and abdomen, according to sheriff's officials. Deputies arrived after receiving a 911 call from a neighbor who witnessed the attack. Wayne Walker, 79, who rushed over to help Cindy said, "It looked like [the dog] took a chunk of her throat out around the jugular." Walker knew she was already dead.

At that point, Walker hit the dog across the face with his walking stick and the dog ran away, he said. He immediately grabbed the child and went inside of Whisman’s house. The child did not appear to be injured, Walker said.

Walker said he has known Whisman for 40 years, and that her husband has health issues and rarely leaves their house.

"It was a terrible thing that happened to her," he said. "She was a good woman." - Wayne Walker, Oxford Press

There continues to be conflicting reports of who owned the home where the attack occurred -- who was temporarily living at the home when Julie Whisman's pit bull of 5-years brutally attacked and killed her mother in front of her 2-year old son? It seems that Walker's statement, who lives directly next door and has known Cindy for 40-years, is the most probable. Julie continues to act bewildered that her pit bull, she touts as "My Guard Dog Polo" on Facebook, killed her mother.

Julie is hardly the first daughter or son whose dog viciously killed a parent or grandparent. Most recently, in 2013 and 2014, Annabell Martin (rottweilers), Nancy Newberry (pit bull), Dorothy Hamilton (pit bulls), Betty Todd (pit bull) and Elsie Grace (pit bulls) all suffered horrific deaths due to their child's poor choice in dog breeds. As a note to parents and grandparents, it is a terrible idea to allow your beloved children to bring these high risk dangerous dog breeds into your home.

The Dayton Daily News reports that the 5-year old pit bull that killed Cindy might be euthanized today. The video shows the dog in quarantine at the Butler County animal shelter (Animal Friends Humane Society). Executive director Meg Stephenson continues to say that the breed of dog has not been determined, despite the dog's owner saying her dog is a pure bred pit bull. Kurt Merbs, Butler County’s assistant dog warden supervisor, is calling the dog a pit bull-presa canario mix.

The Kumpf Card has already been played this year in Ohio. It's not going to happen twice.1 The public has images of this dog at 3 and 5-years old.

Lastly, just before publishing this update, the Oxford Press updated their own article. Apparently, Julie is now having second thoughts about putting Polo down, her 5-year old pit bull that ripped out her mother's throat, killing her. Julie told the media on Tuesday that she wants to see the results of the investigation and better understand what happened before making a determination about her dog. She said after thinking about the "situation" for 24 hours, she is now "indecisive."

08/04/14: Killed by Daughter's Pit Bull
New information reveals that the victim's daughter, Julie Whisman, owns the pit bull that attacked and killed her mother, 59-year old Cindy Whisman. Julie, her 2-year old son and her pit bull began living with her parents two months ago.2 Conflicting information -- which should be cleared up soon -- states that Julie owned the home and her mother was babysitting the boy when she was fatally attacked. What is confirmed is that the pit bull killed the grandmother in front of the child.

"He loved my son ... They played together. My son would sit on him, lay on him. Smack him in the face. He wouldn’t do anything." - Julie Whisman

Cindy was in the backyard with her 2-year old grandson when the pit bull viciously attacked her. Julie was at work at the time of the incident. A neighbor who witnessed the attack called 911. Another neighbor ran into the Whisman's backyard and beat the dog back with a walking stick, but Cindy was already dead. Julie said she has owned the 5-year old male pit bull, named Polo, since it was 6-weeks old. Another dog owned by Julie was also removed from the home by authorities.

08/04/14: Family Pit Bull Kills Woman
Madison Township, OH - In a developing story, a 59-year old woman was attacked and killed by her family's pit bull in Madison Township. The attack occurred at a residence on the 4700 block of Eck Road just after 1 pm on Monday, according to authorities. The victim has been identified as 59-year old Cindy Whisman. The woman was attacked by the family's pit bull and a neighbor witnessed the attack, according to police. More information is expected in the next few hours.

Cindy Whisman's death marks the third fatal dog attack in Ohio since February. Earlier victims include Klonda Richey, 57-years old of Dayton, brutally killed by her neighbor's two mastiff-mix dogs after stepping outside of her home, and Johnathan Quarles Jr., 7-months old, killed by his babysitter's pit bull while visiting her Dayton home. The City of Dayton resides in Montgomery County, which is adjacent to Butler County, where the most recent Ohio fatal dog attack occurred.

The southwest corner of Ohio also includes Hamilton County, where Cincinnati is located. In June, 6-year old Zainabou Drama suffered "unimaginable" injuries inflicted by two pit bulls in Cincinnati. As described by her grandfather, the dogs, "grabbed her face and literally tore it off." Zainabou remains hospitalized at Cincinnati Children's hospital. Her attack brought about a fierce debate. In 2012, Cincinnati repealed their pit bull ban and Ohio repealed their longstanding state pit bull law.

After Cindy's death, the attacking pit bull was taken to Animal Friends Humane Society. Just last week, the News-Journal ran an article (Recent pit bull attacks raise questions about breed, dog laws) focusing on Butler County and nearby cities with breed-specific laws. The executive director of the organization, Meg Stephenson, was interviewed and voiced the typical, "It’s the owner not the breed." How will she now explain Cindy's death? She trained the family pit bull to kill her?

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

1When police arrived at the gruesome scene of Klonda Richey's death in February, they shot and killed both dogs and released statements, telling the media the dogs were pit bulls. Not long after, AC Director Mark Kumpf began an aggressive campaign, telling media officials the dogs were "mastiff-mixes" or "cane corsos." His campaign was successful. His leadership, however, fell under scrutiny after Klonda's preventable death. In July, after the second fatal dog attack occurred in his jurisdiction -- involving a pit bull labled an American Staffordshire terrier -- Kumpf's office directed all questions to the Dayton Police Department. His leadership remains under scrutiny today.
2Flip switch, in this case the dog's owner had been temporarily living with the victim when her pit bull of 5-years suddenly attacked her mother who was babysitting her 2-year old son. The toddler witnessed the fatal attack.

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Colleen Lynn

2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Two Cane Corsos Brutally Attack and Kill Jogger in Metamora Township, Michigan

Craig Sytsma, 46-years old, was mauled to death by two cane corsos in Metamora.

Puppies Spared; Right to Repetition archived
UPDATE 08/02/14: Three adult cane corsos have been euthanized, but prosecutors backed down from their civil complaint filed on July 25 to seize the eight offspring puppies1 ("Complainant believes ... they’re [sic] blood line cannot be reasonably believed to be safe for society"). Instead, prosecutors made a deal with the defendants' attorneys, who deny the dogs' owners are breeders, despite being caught red-handed selling these pure bred cane corsos for up to $1,100 online.

As an attorney and a prosecutor I have a problem with our county giving out these puppies and doing a wait and see and hopefully they are OK and wait and see. Maybe they will do something, maybe they won't. They probably won't, but we can't take that chance. - Mike Hodges, Lapeer County assistant prosecuting attorney, July 30, WNEM.com

Prosecutors have bigger fish to fry -- Sebastiano Quagliata and Valbona Lucaj. Maybe this is why they lost sight of their original, and noteworthy, public safety concern. Lapeer County Animal Control, who took little preventable actions prior to the death of Craig Sytsma, will choose the rescue organization(s) to send the expensive purebred cane corso puppies to. Prosecutors have placed restrictions on the adoptions and maintain the right to repetition the court in 60-days.

If a shelter for the puppies cannot be found, the prosecutor's office can come back to the court.

"We have the right to repetition in 60 days," he said.
The puppies will be sterilized and anyone who takes them from any shelter would have to be warned of the history of their family, Hodges added.

In the meantime, animal control is attempting to contact other litters from breeds that Quagliata and Lucaj may have sold. He said they aren't looking to take the animals, but rather gather information about their aggressiveness. - Mike Hodges, Lapeer County assistant prosecuting attorney, August 1, 2014, Mlive.com

We encourage readers to write to the Lapeer County Prosecutors Office in regard to their decision (scroll to see the mailing and email addresses). Fatal dog mauling criminal cases are regrettably uncommon and prosecutors are often in search of knowledge to help fill in the voids. Also, unless surprises occur in the short term, this update will complete this blog post. The criminal trial, which will no doubt be extensive, will be covered in a new post dedicated to the criminal proceedings.

07/31/14: Charged with Second-Degree Murder
The owners of two Italian cane corsos that mauled to death a jogger on July 23 in Metamora are being charged with second-degree murder, the Lapeer County Prosecutor’s Office announced tonight.2 Sebastiano Quagliata, 45 and former falcon owner, was already in custody Thursday and his wife, Valbona Lucaj, 44, was expected to turn herself in shortly, according to prosecutor Tim Turkelson. Quagliata and Lucaj will be arraigned in Lapeer County District Court at 9 am Friday.

The couple faces up to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder. Prosecutors also charged the couple with possessing an animal causing death (another tier of significant charges if the jury fails to convict on second-degree murder). Murder charges are "exceptionally" rare in fatal dog attack cases. The only conviction in modern times is Marjorie Knoller.3 In 2001, Knoller's two presa canarios brutally killed Diane Whipple in the hallway of her San Francisco apartment.

We guarantee readers that when Lapeer County prosecutors present their case -- just like the prosecutors did in the dog mauling death of Diane Whipple -- that numerous, perhaps even dozens, of new aggression or biting incidents will be presented along with the two reported previous attacks in 2012 and 2013. We predict that prosecutors will show that Lucaj and Quagliata had full knowledge of their dogs' viciousness and showed a wanton disregard for human life.

07/31/14: Facing "Imminent" Deportation
The owners of two cane corsos that brutally attacked and killed a jogger are in the U.S. illegally and were facing "imminent" deportation at the time of the attack, according to officials. Valbona Lucaj, 44, came to the country from Albania in January 1997 after bribing an immigration officer into granting her asylum, according to federal court filings. Her Italian husband and former falcon owner, Sebastiano Quagliata, 45, arrived a month earlier as a tourist and never left the country.

The couple has been fighting deportation ever since U.S. officials learned that Lucaj paid an immigration official in New York $3,000 to grant her asylum. This same asylum was then given to her spouse, Quagliata. Prosecutors are expected to announce a decision on criminal charges this week in connection to the death of Craig Sytsma. It is unclear how much, if at all, the couple's citizenship status -- history of bribery, lies and fraud -- will weigh into this possible prosecution.

As recently as March 31, 2014, a U.S. District Judge refused to stop their deportation, siding with immigration officials who said that Lucaj, "lacked good moral character arising out of fraud in obtaining asylum." By this point, Lucaja and Quagliata's two cane corsos had attacked two people at different times, 2012 and 2013, and the couple was heading into a homespun breeding operation of papered purebred Italian cane corsos, some puppies selling for $1,100 each.

How many other schemes are these two involved in?

The couple was first notified in 2005 that the U.S. government intended to terminate their asylum status and deport them. Lucaj traveled to Chicago to appeal the decision. While reviewing her file, immigration officials found more fraud, including that "documents were clearly altered" and that her story was not credible. Quagliata's arrest story was not credible either. Lucaj told investigators he had been arrested on a train and Quagliata told authorities his arrest took place on a boat.

On Friday, Lapeer County prosecutors will ask a district court judge to order the destruction of the two fatally attacking dogs, along with a third adult cane corse found at the home and seven cane corse puppies that are products of the fatally attacking dogs. On the same day, about 140 miles away, Sytsma’s family will celebrate his life and mourn his death at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Jenison, Michigan. Sytsma leaves behind three children and many grieving family members.

07/28/14: Possible Felony Charges archived
Depending upon the results of the ongoing police investigation, prosecutors could pursue two different felony charges against the owners of the fatally attacking dogs. Lapeer County Prosecutor Tim Turkelson said his office could pursue felony manslaughter charges, if the facts warrant the charge, which carries up to 15-years in prison. His office could also pursue charges of possession of a dangerous animal causing death, which also carries up to 15-years in prison.

Turkelson mistakenly states in the article that fatal dog attacks involving adults are rare. What is true is that mauling fatalities involving persons 18-years and older are not much less frequent than fatalities involving children. During the 9-year period of 2005 to 2013, dogs mauled to death 284 Americans. 153 (54%) involved children 14-years and younger and 131 (46%) involved adults 20-years and older. See related chart: 9-Year U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Chart by Age Groups

Separately, today's Detroit Free Press article points out the woeful inadequacies of Lapeer County Animal Control (Records: Police, animal control did little as dogs attacked walkers) and how authorities took little action in the face of a growing menace involving massive "guardian" dogs -- a bull-baiting dog, fighting dog, mastiff derivative -- selectively bred for bloodsports and hunting large wild game, such as wild boar and cougars. Why not treat them the same as a biting poodle?

The article also slams dog owners Valbona Lucaj, 44, and Sebastiano Quagliata, 45, who neglected to show up in court after the 2012 and 2013 biting incidents. The picture painted of the dogs' owners is that dog bite victims are the "real" menace that can be alleviated by 1.) Never facing them in court and 2.) Paying off a minimal fine. These responses by the owners were okay by Lapeer County Animal Control, who likely view dog bite victims as the "real" menace as well.

07/25/14: "Everything I Own is Aggressive"
The 911 call has been released. Craig Sytsma, 46, was brutally mauled to death by two loose cane corsos on Wednesday evening while jogging. New information was also provided about the dogs' owner and previous victims of the dogs. The owner and his multiple cane corsos moved to Metamora in 2011. Within a year, one of the dogs attacked April Smith of Oxford as she walked along the road near the owner's home. In 2013, the dogs attacked a male neighbor in his 70s.

The dogs' owner — who thus far has not been charged with any crime related to the fatal mauling — moved to the Metamora community in 2011, authorities said. Besides the dogs already surrendered, he has two more, including another adult Cane Corso and multiple puppies.

His dogs have been involved in two other attacks, one in 2012 and the other in 2013. And, according to neighbors, had a rough reputation.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't surprised," neighbor Ashley Winter, 31, said of the fatal attack.

She recalls meeting the owner and his Cane Corsos shortly after moving to the neighborhood in June 2012. The man came to introduce himself and had a full-sized pet hawk on his arm; one of the Corso dogs was running loose, she said.

"I said, 'Is he aggressive?' And he said, 'Yeah, everything I own is aggressive,'" Winter said. "I thought, 'What have we gotten ourselves into?'" - Detroit Free Press

Attorney Glenn Saltsman, who represented Smith, said the male neighbor was bitten in November 2013 also while walking near the owner's home. Both were "very lucky" that their injuries were not more severe, he said. "Unfortunately, the recent victim wasn't so lucky," Saltsman said. "These people know full well what's been going on with their dogs, and they've chosen to do absolutely nothing about it... I don't know for the life of me why the authorities never took these dogs away."

Authorities have "known full well" what's been going on with these dogs as well. Even if they could not take the dogs away, they could have required fencing. Two years after the first attack, the owner's property is still unfenced. Not only is this a case of an extremely reckless dog owner, it is an extreme failure of local authorities acting to ensure public safety. Only now, after a man was killed by the animals, are they calling the dogs a "public threat" and "beyond rehabilitation."

What will local authorities do with the multiple offspring, presuming they are "little cane corsos" born from fatally attacking parents? Probably nothing. The owner and his family will simply raise a new round of cane corsos and the process will start all over again, whether they stay in Metamora or move to a new location. Local and state laws must become more aggressive about "extremely reckless dog owners" -- who are already "well-known" bottom of the bucket repeat offenders.

There was a major 9:48 pm update to this Detroit Free Press news report.4 On Friday, prosecutors filed a complaint seeking to seize the dogs involved in the fatal attack along with the puppies because, they are "the apparent product of aggressive animals that have killed a human being," the complaint said. "Complainant believes ... that the puppies are products of the adult Cane Corso’s resulting in human death and they’re [sic] blood line cannot be reasonably believed to be safe for society," the complaint says. KUDOS prosecutors!

9:48 pm update additions: In addition to the civil complaint filed by prosecutors to seize the puppies of the two fatally attacking cane corsos in the 9:48 pm update, the owners of the dogs were named and parts of their defense explained. Sebastiano Quagliata, 45, and Valbona Lucaj, 44, also want the two attackers put down, according to their attorney Jason Malkiewicz from St. Clair Shores. "Never in their wildest dreams" could they foresee anything like this ever happening.

A third attack, however, naturally follows a second attack. Now let's move onto fences and the "accidental breeding" of papered purebred dogs.

Malkiewicz counters that the dogs were "constantly" allowed to run free, as described by neighbor Ashley Winter. He said the dogs were kept in a fenced-in area behind the house. On the day of the fatal attack, Malkiewicz said the dogs had been left in a chain-link kennel at least 6 feet tall by 10 feet wide, with tethers bolted into the ground. He said he does not know how the dogs could have escaped. Though, a cane corso owned by a different neighbor did have fence-jumping capabilities.

Malkiewicz, however, said the family is “not really breeders,” and that a neighbor’s Cane Corso jumped the fence and bred with the mother. He said that the day of the attack, the dogs had been left in an outdoor chain-link kennel at least 6 feet tall by 10 feet wide, with tethers bolted into the ground.

He said he doesn’t know how the dogs could have escaped. He also said his clients always complied with anything animal control asked. - Detroit Free Press

As pointed out by the Detroit Free Press, an advertisement selling puppies on Hoobly.com, shows more than a dozen cane corso puppies for sale along with International Cane Corso Federation registration papers, ranging from $600 to $1,100. The listing includes a phone number for Quagliata and Lucaj and was renewed a week ago. The advertisement also says, "I have anther breed coming up 2 puppies." Does the below sound like an "accidental breeding" to readers?

I have cane corso register inccf booth parent champion blood last 2 male's black brindle coming with both shots deworming all peppers coming with puppies is reedy to go end new home am selling last because I have anther breed coming up 2 puppies for $1100 1 puppies $600 I give warranty per puppies more info call or email PH # 586/*** or 586/*** email Email Me Here thank Sebastian or Vali - Hoobly Classifieds

07/24/14: Female Victim Speaks Out
Late Thursday, more information was released about one of the previous attack victims. April Smith, 25 of Oxford, recalls when she was attacked by one of the cane corsos in 2012. Smith filed a civil lawsuit against the dogs' owners. Smith said she was horrified to learn the owner was still in possession of the dog. "It's just crazy to me," Smith said. "Animal control should have done something. It should have never gone this far. The fact this has led to a death, it's sickening."

Now that the dogs have inflicted the brutal death of a man, being their third off-property attack, authorities are willing to "take the matter to court" to ensure that the dogs are put down -- that is two victims too late, at the very least, one victim too late. The dogs should have been destroyed after their second off-property attack in 2013. To answer our question from earlier today (italicized below), it appears animal control did absolutely nothing after the first two vicious attacks.

"When I was attacked, I didn't even see it running up to us until it was directly behind me with its teeth out and growling viciously. We were about three houses past the yard the dog lives in, so he ran 50 yards to catch up to us. He tore my leg in three different places and I had to get medical attention. There was a lot of bloodshed and it was very severe. I had bruising for months and had to endure physical therapy. This caused me a lot pain."
---snip---

She said she filed a lawsuit against the owners, which has been settled. She said the owners have no fence around their house, which was one of the stipulations in the lawsuit.

"I cannot believe this happened to someone," Smith said. "I'm not mad at the dogs, I'm so upset with the owners. I thought something would be done with these dogs, but nothing was done. Nothing was ever done. Those dogs are vicious. It's not a joke." - April Smith, Detroit Free Press

Prosecutors in Michigan have filed charges in multiple cases after a fatal dog attack, including after the deaths of Kyle Holland, Kylie Cox and the double canine homicide of Cheryl Harper and Edward Gierlach. In 2008, Diane Cockrell pleaded no contest to felony and misdemeanor charges in connection to the deaths of Harper and Gierlach. She was sentenced to a minimum of 3.5 years for allowing her American bulldog-mixes to run free and kill two people in Iosco Township.

The Detroit Free Press report also notes that the owners of the cane corsos are running a breeding operation. It states that after attacking Craig Sytsma, the two dogs ran back to their property, "where there is at least one other dog and an unknown number of puppies," though authorities are unclear of the breed. Given the rarity of cane corsos and that a "pair" attacked Sytsma, seems likely the pair is a male and female and the puppies are "little cane corsos."

07/24/14: Three-Time Attackers
Updates throughout the day identify the two attacking dogs as cane corsos. Earlier today, ClickonDetroit.com had two photographs of the same dog. The most recent video shows the second dog, which clearly resembles a cane corso. Metamora Police Chief David Mallet said the man's arms were badly bitten. Craig Sytsma died of bite wounds and blood loss. Family members were angered to learn the same dogs had attacked two people in the past, in 2012 and 2013.

It would be interesting to know what, if any, restrictions were imposed upon the dogs' owners by animal control (or the local or county ordinance) after two separate injurious off-property attacks.

07/24/14: Jogger Dies After Dog Attack
Metamora, MI - A man is dead after being attacked by a pair of bullmastiffs while jogging on Wednesday. The attack occurred about 5:30 pm on the 5500 block of Thomas Road in Metamora Township. Officers were initially dispatched for gunshots fired. It later became apparent that a neighbor had shot at the dogs to frighten them away from the victim. Craig Sytsma, 46, was transported to McLaren Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He did not survive.

The two dogs were located and taken to Lapeer County Animal Control. ClickOnDetroit.com shows photographs of the dogs that police describe as 3-year old bullmastiffs. Police said the victim lived in Livonia and was in the area because he works at Eltro Services in Oxford Township. Sytsma is divorced with three children. Police said both bullmastiffs have been involved in previous bite cases. Police say it is too early to determine if the dogs' owner will face any charges.

In an afternoon report from CBS Detroit, Metamora Police Chief David Mallet said the dogs were actually cane corsos, a similar mastiff breed. Mallet said a neighbor who was cutting his lawn saw Sytsma in a ditch being mauled by the two animals. Mallet said police have received a "couple of calls about animal bites in the past with these dogs." He added, "I do hope something is done…This is disastrous." The Oakland County Prosecutor is investigating possible charges.

1Who wants to be known as a puppy killer?
2According to some quick Google searches, Michigan has a fairly expansive definition for second-degree murder. As Michigan criminal defense attorneys note on their websites, second-degree murder charges can be brought in drunk driving cases. See also the website, Michiganprosecutor.org, that helps explain these charges.
3Read an overview of the Diane Whipple case on DogBiteLaw.com.
4Read the original 5:17 pm Detroit Free Press news report, which we based our 7/25/14 update upon.

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