Posted on November 21, 2013 by Colleen Lynn

2013 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman, 75, Killed by Bullmastiff-Mix in Arkansas Gated Community

Joan Kappen, 75, was savagely killed by a loose bullmastiff-pit bull mix.

Rumors are True
UPDATE 01/03/14: According to an affidavit, the bullmastiff-pit bull mix that fatally attacked 75-year old Joan Kappen on November 21 in Hot Springs Village is from the same litter as a bullmastiff-pit bull mix that killed 5-year old Ayden Evans on June 9 in Jessieville. The locations of the attacks are separated by under 10 miles. The rumors that circulated just after Kappen's death are true: Two dogs from the same litter within a 5-month period killed two different people.

The affidavit also revealed that the dog that killed Kappen, named "Patrone," had a history of aggression. "Brande Coy knew or had to reason to know that the bullmastiff/pitbull mix breed dog (Patrone) had a propensity to attack, cause injury, or endanger the safety of other persons without provocation," the affidavit states. Brande Coy is wanted for manslaughter in connection to Kappen's death. Her daughter Emily, the dog's owner, has a warrant for harboring a vicious dog.

Brande Coy told investigators that Patrone had bitten her sister in the face two months before Kappen's attack (one month before the attack, Brande posted the image of Patrone to her Facebook page: "My Guardian..."). Emily Coy revealed to an animal control officer that the dog would "bite out of fear." The affidavit also states that Emily had been bitten on two separate occasions, and that she was aware that Patrone had bitten a neighbor in the face in July 2012.

"Brande Coy recklessly allowed the dog to attack another person. Brande acted recklessly by allowing the dog out in a public area unsupervised and unsecured. According to witnesses, the dog had also been allowed out in a public area unsupervised and unsecure on at least one occasion to the incident involving Kappen ... The action of recklessly allowing the dog out in a public area unsupervised and unsecured contributed to and resulted in the death of Kappen."

While the reckless behavior of Brande and Emily Coy might come as a shock to some readers, especially in light of the fact that they also knew that Patrone was a littermate of the dog that killed Ayden Evans, it is not a shock to us. Two horrifically irresponsible, if not psychologically imbalanced, individuals in complete denial about their large aggressive dog. Welcome to the world of owners of dangerous dogs. Innocents like Joan Kappen pay with their limbs and lives.

Joan Kappen was not bitten by Patrone, she was mutilated, according to her husband.

While writing this post, more damning news came in. THV11.com obtained additional information from the Saline County Arrest Warrants for Brande and Emily Coy. Details include that the attack on Joan lasted up to 30 minutes before Brande placed the 911 emergency call. She remained in the home "washing her face, hair, and changing clothes - until emergency personnel responded on scene about 16 minutes later." All the while, Joan Kappen lay mutilated and dying in a ditch.

Strike: "psychologically imbalanced." Add in its place: "narcissistic and psychopathic."

The newly released details also sheds light on Emily's shocking level of denial. The 2012 facial bite involved a woman who had "regularly" cared for Patrone: "The woman said in July 2012, she reached down to pet Patrone when he bit her in the face. She said that Emily witnessed the bite and helped stop the bleeding, but refused to pay for any medical attention. Emily said the woman had come to her home, yelling and making threats, which is why Patrone acted out of defense."

A statement from a Hot Springs Village police officer reveals more denial. The officer said about two years ago, when he worked with Emily at a local café, she "showed up to work with bandages on her arm and leg." According to the officer, Emily told him and other employees that Patrone had bitten her, causing the injuries. When asked about that incident during the current investigation, Emily denied saying Patrone had bitten her and said the bites were from another dog.

See in full: Brande Coy Arrest Affidavit filed on January 2, 2014

01/02/14: Manslaughter Charges
Brande Michelle Coy, who was taking care of her daughter's bullmastiff when it fatally attacked 75-year old Joan Kappen, has been charged with manslaughter, according to the Saline County Prosecutor's Office. Warrants were also issued to Coy for unlawful dog attack and harboring a vicious animal. A warrant was issued to her daughter, Emily Ann Coy, for harboring a vicious animal as well. Manslaughter is a Class "C" Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

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12/09/13: Victim's Son Files Lawsuit
Local news reports that the son of a 75-year old woman killed by a loose bullmastiff in the gated retirement community of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas has filed a lawsuit against the dog's owner and the owner's mother. Charles "Chuck" Hippenstiel, special administrator for the estate of his mother, Joan Kappen, seeks a jury trial and $2.5 million compensation. His attorney, Michael Lipscomb of Little Rock, filed the civil lawsuit on December 5, in Saline County Circuit Court.

As expected, the lawsuit names the owner of the dog, Emily Coy, and her mother, Brande Coy (where the photo on this post originates, Brande's Facebook page). The lawsuit alleges the Coys were negligent in multiple ways, including "releasing without restraint a 130 pound dog on a public way and harboring a dangerous animal," states the Fox16.com news article. Joan Kappen was attacked and killed by the Coys loose bullmastiff on November 21 while taking her daily walk.

12/03/13: Husband Calls for Breed Ban
Hans Kappen of Hot Springs Village continues to advocate for breed-specific laws after a loose bullmastiff savagely struck down his wife on November 21. A neighbor near to the attack wrote into DogsBite.org last week: "Her husband could only identify her by her shoes and her glasses that lay near by," the person stated. Kappen told THV11 Tuesday, "We need to get these types of killer dogs" off the street. "They are not considered pets, they are killer dogs," Kappen said.

"Contact your lawmakers here in Arkansas, around the United States, anywhere in the world so this does not happen again." - Hans Kappen

THV11 also interviewed several Hot Springs Village residents who agree that regulations are in order after Joan Kappen was attacked and killed by a bullmastiff while taking her daily walk. "I was horrified that such a thing could happen in any community let alone a retirement community where you have a bullmastiff running around," Penny Eagle said. "It shouldn't be allowed. There should be some type of ordinance where you shouldn't be allowed to have those types of animals."

Kappen will attend a property owners association meeting on Wednesday to pursue this cause.

11/22/13: Stricter Dog Laws Needed
The husband of a woman brutally killed by a loose bullmastiff this week in Hot Springs Village while she took her morning walk continues to speak out about stricter laws. Hans Kappen believes that if tougher laws had existed, his beloved wife would still be alive today. The Saline County dog ordinance is all of three pages; the county doesn't have a leash law or fencing requirements either. Thus, no criminal charges are expected after an off-property attack resulted in a human death.

"What kind of country is this? What protection do we have?" - Hans Kappen

Hans promises to fight for a leash law in his community and also believes there should be laws regulating the ownership of dangerous dog breeds, the breeds disproportionately responsible for severe maulings, maimings and fatalities. Currently in Saline County, there are laws against "vicious" dogs, which we refer to as "hindsight" laws. The dog is labeled "vicious" after it inflicts serious injury to a person. So, first attacks by known dangerous dog breeds are acceptable.

Arkansas Dog Bite Fatalities

During the 8-year period of 2005 to 2012, Arkansas had three dog bite fatalities: Matthew Hurt, 2-years old (Nevada Co. - 2009), James Dowling, 4-years old (Franklin Co. - 2011) and Deborah Roberts, 45-years old (Jefferson Co. - 2012). There have been three dog bite fatalities in Arkansas since June of 2013. The population of this state is only 3 million. The death by dog bite incidence rate per 100,000 in Arkansas has sharply inclined since we released the state map post in May.

11/21/13: Victim's Husband Speaks Out
The husband of a woman mauled to death by a dog today while walking in the Hot Springs Village gated retirement community hopes that someone is held responsible for her death. Hans Kappen had been married to his wife Joan for just over a decade. Hans told reporters that his wife had been walking the same route for 7-years and never had a problem until today, when she was not "bitten" by a dog, but savagely attacked, struck down and killed by an aggressive loose dog.

"They didn't just bite somebody, they killed my wife." - Hans Kappen

News reports now say that it was a "family member" of the dog's owner that was attacked when she intervened to try to control the animal -- aka the "dog sitter." In a separate article, Hot Springs Village residents were "surprised" to learn that police said no criminal charges are warranted for an unprovoked, off-property attack that killed an innocent woman. Arkansas is essentially a One Free Bite state. When there is no "history" of viciousness, dog owners are not accountable.1

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11/21/13: Woman, 75, Killed by Dog
Hot Springs Village, AR - An elderly woman was attacked and killed by a neighbor's dog early Thursday morning. 75-year old Joan Kappen of Hot Springs Village was walking on Ornado Lane at the time of the attack. She was transported to Mercy Hospital where she died of injuries inflicted by the dog. According to police officials, the dog was under the care of a woman while the owner was away. When the dog sitter tried to gain control of the animal, she was also attacked.

The dog's owner is Emily Coy also of Hot Springs Village. Her attacking dog was euthanized.

Hot Springs Village, the largest gated community2 in the U.S., is located in Garland and Saline counties. In June, 4-year old Ayden Evans was killed by a bullmastiff-mix while temporarily staying at his aunt's house in Jessieville, an unincorporated community in Garland County, just under 10-miles away from the gated community. Two weeks ago, 4-year old Levi Watson was brutally killed by three pit bulls in White County, Arkansas while visiting a residence with his mother.

1Jurisdictions within Arkansas vary about the one bite rule, as attorney Kenneth Phillips explains on his web page. Further, there are a number of Arkansas jurisdictions that flat out ban specific dog breeds.
2The elderly victim was not safe from a deadly dog mauling while walking in her own gated retirement community.

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Colleen Lynn

2013 Dog Bite Fatality: Boy Dies After Attacked by Pit Bulls in White County, Arkansas

No Criminal Charges
UPDATE 11/19/13: County detectives have completed their investigation into the mauling death of 4-year old Levi Watson, who was fatally injured by up to three pit bulls on November 8. According to the White County Sheriff's Office (WCSO), no charges will be filed against the dogs' owners or the child's mother. WCSO and prosecuting attorneys reviewed the evidence in the case and determined that it did not support criminal charges for either party. All three dogs were put down.

11/09/13: Family Members Mourn
In an evening update from KARK 4 News, no new details were shared about the deadly attack of Levi Watson of Bradford. Information, however, was learned about the boy's family. His father has 14 brothers and sisters, thus the number of aunts, uncles and siblings are extensive. Chelsea Watson, who has been outspoken on Facebook, is Levi's half-sister and the younger of the two women in the video. Relatives continue to try to piece together the moments before the attack.

11/09/13: Police Confirm Pit Bulls
White County authorities have identified the 4-year old boy killed by up to three dogs on Friday and confirmed that the attacking dogs were pit bulls. The child's name is Levi Watson; he lived with his mother Deborah Sizemore in Bradford, Chief Deputy Phillip Miller with the White County Sheriff's Department said in a statement Saturday. The dogs' owner is Bradford resident Justin Corbit. According to his Facebook page, Corbit graduated from Bradford High School in 2009.

Levi Watson, 4, is the 376th American killed by pit bulls since we began the Archival Record.

11/08/13: Young Boy Killed by Dogs
White County, AR - In a developing story, a young boy died of injuries inflicted by dogs on Friday at a White County residence. The boy was "visiting" a residence on Piker Lane in Bradford when the attack occurred, according to the White County Sheriff's Department. Chief Deputy Phillip E. Miller said the boy was about 4-years old and was visiting the home with his mother, when the boy exited the house and was attacked. Three dogs were present, Miller said, none were leashed.

KATV.com adds that the boy exited the home and entered into a fenced-in area where the dogs were kept just before 3:30 pm. That is when the dogs attacked. The child was taken by ambulance to the White County Medical Center in Searcy where he later died. Deputies confiscated three dogs from the residence; Miller would not confirm their breeds. Two adults were home at the time of the attack, the boy's mother and the dogs' owner. Authorities have not released the boy's name.

Recent Arkansas fatalities:
06/13/13: 2013 Dog Bite Fatality: Child Temporarily Staying with Aunt Killed by Neighbor's Dog
09/11/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Jefferson County Woman Attacked by Own Pit Bulls Dies
08/13/11: 2011 Dog Bite Fatality: 4-Year Old Boy Killed by Grandfather's Rottweiler in Ozark

Photo: Facebook

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Colleen Lynn

2013 Dog Bite Fatality: Spanaway Woman Attacked by Pit Bulls Dies from Injuries

Nga Woodhead, 65-years old, died after being attacked by two pit bulls in Spanaway.

Family Wins Judgment
In June 2014, the family of a woman who died of injuries after a vicious pit bull attack won a victory in court. Superior Court Judge Stan Rumbaugh ruled that Santiago Quezada, who owned the two pit bulls linked to the attack, owed Nga Woodhead’s family $1.12 million. Attorney Jason Whalen, who represented Charles Woodhead, Nga’s husband, said the family probably won’t be able to collect the debt. At least, however, the verdict becomes part of an official record, he said.

Attorney Jason Whalen represented Charles Woodhead, Nga’s husband. Whalen noted that the family probably won’t be able to collect the debt. He said it becomes part of an official record and sends a message to owners of dangerous dogs who do not take proper steps to restrain them.

“We’re ensuring that some sense of justice was done for an owner of vicious dogs that failed to take responsibility,” Whalen said. “Knowing this would be an uncollectable judgment, we’ve still established that those who own dogs that cause damage to another within a public right of way are liable for the harm.”

Quezada appeared in court without an attorney. He was never charged with a crime. The Medical Examiner’s Office concluded the dog attack caused Woodhead’s death. Prosecutors reviewed the case for three months, but could not build sufficient evidence to support a criminal charge; it was too difficult to prove Quezada knew his dogs were dangerous before they escaped. - Tacoma Tribune, June 6, 2014

11/07/13: Cause of Death Released
The Seattle Times reported earlier today that the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office said 65-year old Nga Woodhead died of a heart attack brought on by "extremity contusions, lacerations and fractures due to dog bites." The Pierce County Sheriff's Department plans to recommend to prosecutors to file criminal charges against the owner of the pit bulls, Santiago Quecada. "They were his dogs," sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said, "They should have been locked up."

On October 30, Nga was on her daily walk, about a mile from her Spanaway home, when the two pit bulls began attacking, her husband Charles Woodhead said. "She didn’t see the dogs coming. They ran up behind her and attacked," he said. Charles was with his wife in her hospital room on Tuesday when her heart stopped. The couple had been married for 41-years. Their 42nd wedding anniversary was Wednesday; the day the medical examiner's office released her cause of death.

"I’m sad and mad. I’m mad at an owner who has two pit bulls who should have known better." - Charles Woodhead

While under attack by the dogs, Nga was able to call her husband from her cellphone, but she could not tell him where she was. It was a passerby who tried to help Nga that got on the line and gave Charles their location. He arrived on scene minutes after the attack as medics were loading her into an ambulance. Her right arm was shredded and bruises covered her body, he said. The couple met in 1970 when he was stationed in the Air Force in South Vietnam during the war.

Nga Woodhead, 65, is the 375th American killed by pit bulls since we began the Archival Record.

11/06/13: Autopsy Underway
Spanaway, WA - A 65-year old woman attacked by two pit bulls on October 30 has died of her injuries, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. Nga Woodhead of Spanaway was attacked by two loose pit bulls as she walked down Pacific Avenue South. The animals jumped on her, knocked her into a ditch and began to horribly maul her. A 52-year old man who tried to save her was also badly bitten. Another passerby shot and hit one of the pit bulls causing it to run away.

After the vicious attack, the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office began looking into charges against the dogs' owner, Santiago Quezada who lives just down the street from where the incident occurred. Quezada said he didn't know how the dogs got out of his fenced yard and claimed then, "They're really nice dogs. They were raised with a family, with kids." Quezada also tellingly said, "I just want to say I feel really sorry about the people. And we're going to fix things, you know."

According to the victim's husband Chuck Woodhead, his wife died suddenly at the hospital where she was taken after the severe attack. He said he was in her room getting ready to be released from the hospital Tuesday when she lost consciousness. Doctors tried to revive her, but were unsuccessful. An autopsy is currently underway. Her husband also told KOMO News that he was told by animal control that Pierce County will pursue criminal charges against the dogs' owner.

One of the brave men that came to Nga's rescue left a comment on the KOMO News article.

Driving southbound on SR7 from the American Lake VA Hospital I saw a middle aged heavy set woman jumping and screaming for help on the other side and then I saw two dogs mauling something in the ditch. Assuming the worst, her child I veered to the center land, hit the hazards and jumping out bounding across two lanes of heavy traffic at 0900 on October 30th to find two pit bulls mauled a senior Asian woman. This woman was clearly severely injured and unable to defend herself as the two dog had her quartered and ripping arm and leg. Her clothes were already half ripped off and deep lacerations were clearly evident. I immediately start growing, yelling and punching the larger male pit bull in the nose as both dog turned their attack to me. Punching both dogs to lured them into oncoming traffic, I focused my attack on the alpha male and kicked at the female dog to insure both pursued me into traffic to use the passing vehicles as weapons since I was unarmed due to visiting the VA and passing through Joint Base Lewis McChord, Russian Roulette being better than certain death. Unfortunately a white sedan missed me and stopped short of hitting the larger male pit bull. I advanced on the animal taking control pounding its head into the road as the small female got my left upper thigh. Once that female dog locked on my thigh I tried to through the larger male pit bull into the next lane of traffic as a desperate act but the collar broke. I knew I had to stop traffic to get help. When that collar broke I turned my blows to the female's nose to break her locked jaw on my thigh. With success I immediate lunged on to the white sedan that was blocking one lane of traffic to catch my breath and access the situation. The male pit bull got my leather sneaker and was trying to pull me from the hood on the car. I saw cars stopping and a truck driving up the side walk to the woman location and the female dog was back at the old woman again as I kicked the male in the nose. I jumped and run to the ditch for the female dog to get it off the woman again as the male dog pursued me. I laid into the female dog punching and two men approached from different direction to the woman and the truck that came up the side walk. The three men were able to distract the male pit bull as I attacked the female pit again to get it off the victim. The female dog pursue me back into the street as I continued punching hoping the two men and truck driver would be able to keep the larger male dog off me. I shouted orders to the truck driver to run that dog down and kill it while the two men kept it off as I fought the female back into the street. One man was bit by the male dog while I was fighting the female in the middle of the street. Bystanders were approaching and some woman actually screamed at me to leave that dog alone!!!! I was slowing with exhaustion and the male pit bull left the man, truck and victim and came to the female pit bulls aide. In total exhaustion and was unable to counter the attack and the male dog locked onto my right forearm and latched cracking bones and ripping flesh. The cracking of bone was an instant shock and an eternity of hesitation. I punched it nose and pulled to prevent my arm from elbow or shoulder damage as I was taken down. The female bit my left punching fist so I used her head to hit the male dog and break it hold. Only with God's help it worked and I crawled to the hood of the white sedan again with female dog pulling at my feet. Unable to continue severely injured myself, I scrambled to the roof of the car. The pickup driver on the sidewalk in his truck next to the victim fired a personal sidearm as the male pit bull return to the two men and victim. I thank the off duty soldier and promised to bear witness. The inured male dog fled. With the knowledge of backup I scrambled to the victim to access and triage but the female dog returned to me and the victim. I gave orders of assessment to a new male bystander for the triage of the victim as I had to fight the female dog again. Due to shock, injury and exhaustion the female dog was able to easy lock onto my injured right forearm and able to crack bone again. With a punch to the nose I was able to return to the victim and make a visual of the injuries, Deep laceration to the all extremities with bicep hanging. I order the victim covered from the cold until professional help arrived. I scampered to my vehicle to call Brenda Roman to get the kids to school and come to my location and help me back to the hospital. As police approached I directed and order them to kill female pit bull as I limped back toward the animal that the men were keeping abbey from me and the victim. Three Sheriffs isolated the dog as I directed paramedics to the victim not me. Once the police finally shot the last dog and I was answering the medic’s questions I provided the police with ID and initial brief. Medics recommend I go with them, but I choose to return to my clinic where I knew everyone. Injured soldier that helped offered ride to nearby Madigan Army Hospital. Again I declined choosing to return to my Urgent Care at American Lake VA Hospital where I know everyone. - Ranger Rob

Santiago Quezada, who owned the two pit bulls, is seen talking to a KOMO News reporter.

View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: Washington Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

Photo: Komonews.com

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Colleen Lynn

2013 Dog Bite Fatality: Kernersville Woman, 25, Killed by Her Boyfriend's Two Pit Bulls

"Terrible Tragedy"
UPDATE 11/05/13: WFMY News reports that 25-year old Katherine Atkins of Kernersville was lying dead in the backyard near the enclosure of her boyfriend's two pit bulls (it was reported earlier that she was in the enclosure). The two pit bulls were running loose, according to investigators. A man who lives at the home, a roommate of the victim's boyfriend, found her body. The two dogs, a male and female, were taken into custody by animal control and euthanized.

Katherine Atkins, 25, is the 374th American killed by pit bulls since we began the Archival Record.

11/05/13: Woman Killed by Pit Bulls
Kernersville, NC - A woman was mauled to death by her boyfriend's two pit bulls on Monday night. According to Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Captain Millard Shepherd, Katherine Atkins, 25-years old, was feeding the dogs at a home on Stable Hill Trail when they attacked. Her lifeless body was discovered inside of a dog enclosure. Investigators said Atkins had been around the two pit bulls since they were puppies and there was "no history of problems or aggression" with the animals.

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

Recent North Carolina fatalities:
12/12/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Yadkin County Infant Mauled to Death by Family Dog
10/04/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Pembroke 'Dog Rescuer' Killed by Own Dogs
09/14/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 10-Month Old Hertford Boy Killed by Pit Bull
08/16/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Person County Authorities Charge Pit Bull Owner

Photos: WFMY-TV