Posted on October 18, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Ohio Woman and Dog Killed by Vicious Dogs in Condominium Complex

A woman, 73, was killed by vicious dogs at her condominium complex in Ashville. Other people and dogs were also attacked. The dogs had a history of violence, including killing dogs previously.

Police Bodycam Video
UPDATE 10/24/24: Bodycam footage was released Wednesday by the Ashville Police Department. On October 17, a pair of pit bulls broke through a screen door on a patio and attacked Jo Echelbarger, 73, who had been crouched on the ground weeding her flower bed. The video shows officers arriving at the scene on Kildow Court. The officer immediately fires on Apollo, the tan pit bull, and it flees. The officer then approaches the victim, who is blurred in the video, still lying in the flower bed.

"Is that your wife?" the officer asks. "That's my wife," the man answers. "That's the wife right there. We need medics," the officer tells his partner.

The other pit bull, Echo, is still near the victim. The officers discuss "putting the dog down." Then one officer fires five shots into the pit bull. The dog continues to stand. Dirt from the flower bed is seen splayed on the patio ground outside of the blurred area. Echo remains hearty and upright, clawing at a nearby door. "We need medics. We've got several lacerations to a female's head," the officer tells dispatch. Echelbarger was transported to a local hospital, where she died of her injuries.

After Apollo fled, he appeared near Teays Valley East Middle School, where he killed a Golden doodle being walked by its owner. "I was screaming, yelling. My male was trying to get the pit bull off. I got dragged to the ground," Courtney Johnson said. She unhooked both of her dogs and ran to safety. The female, "Sunny" did not survive. The male, "Barkely," was unharmed. "She saved my life and saved Barkley's life," she said. "She's definitely always the leader of the pack." The dogs were littermates.

Arrest and Lawsuits

On Monday, Susan and her son, Adam Withers, were arrested and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter. Both are being held at the Pickaway County Jail. Two civil lawsuits filed this year that we could not access last week are now online. The first is an injunction against the Withers to force the removal of their dogs by the Ashton Village Condominium Association. Since 2015, the Withers have been sent seven complaints about their off-leash dogs, leading to heightened complaints in 2021.

In April 2021, the notice states the Withers dogs had bitten a person and attacked another dog. In March 2022, the Withers dogs were leashed but still attacked two other dogs. In November 2023, after Apollo attacked Kimberlee Black and killed her dog, another notice was sent. This time, it was a notice to terminate the right to maintain an animal. The notice was resent in January 2024. The association filed the injunction lawsuit in April 2024. A judge awarded the injunction in September 2024.

The Withers had still not removed their two pit bulls by October 17, 2024, when they fatally attacked Echelbarger. Black filed her own lawsuit in September 2024, nearly one year after she was attacked in a "common area" at the complex. The lawsuit makes multiple claims and names multiple defendants: Susan and Adam Withers and another resident of their home at that time on Kildow Court, The Reserve at Ashton Village Condominium Association, and Towne Properties Asset Management Company.

10/21/24: Pit Bull Owners Arrested
In a significant development, two people were arrested Monday after two pit bulls killed a 73-year old woman and at least one dog last week at the Ashton Village condominium complex in Ashville, Ohio. The local paper, The Scioto Post, states that around 6:00 pm Monday, Pickaway County Swat arrived at the dog owner's home on Kildow Court and "locked down" the area. At least one of the people arrested was Adam Withers, whose pit bulls have a long history of problems at the complex.

The Columbus Dispatch reported earlier today (paywall) about court filings that are still inaccessible to the public on the Pickaway County Common Pleas website. After his dogs attacked Kimberlee and her dog last October, one of his pit bulls -- Apollo presumably -- was declared "dangerous." In December, Withers was cited for not complying with the dangerous dog restrictions. He was also cited twice in May 2024 for violating Ohio's dangerous dog laws -- failure to confine and failure to register.

The lawsuit filed by the condominium association against Withers in April 2024, states there had been problems with multiple dogs from the Withers home dating back to 2015.1 In November 2023, the association revoked the owners' right to keep two specific dogs, Apollo and Echo, at the condo. According to the Dispatch, in 2015, 2017, 2020, and twice in 2021 the association sent notices to the Withers warning them to keep their dogs on leashes when outside as required by the HOA rules.

After the seventh warning, the association began fining Withers and his mother, who owns the condo. By the time the termination notice was sent, the pair of pit bulls had engaged in multiple altercations with people and dogs. Apollo had killed at least one dog, and Echo had attacked a person, prompting the April 2024 lawsuit. Withers claimed their dogs had been provoked and refused to cooperate with authorities. Adam Withers requested a jury trial to resolve the issues, which was set for November 20.

The lawsuit filed by Kimberlee Black came in September 2024, about a year after she and her dog, "Nemo" were attacked by Apollo. Nemo was killed in the attack. Kimberlee sued Withers and the other residents of the their Kildow Court home, The Reserve at Ashton Village Condominium Association, and Towne Properties Asset Management Company. Since her lawsuit has been filed, resident Jo Echelbarger and a third dog have been killed by the Withers' two vicious pit bulls, Apollo and Echo.

Involuntary Manslaughter

The Columbus Dispatch reports (non-paywall article) that Adam Edward Withers, 35, and his mother, Susan Ann Withers, 61, both of Ashville, have each been charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter, which is a third-degree felony, in connection with the dog mauling death of 73-year-old Jo Echelbarger. The "mother and son" pair have also been charged with one count of failure to restrain "vicious" dogs. Both are being held on a $55,000 bond, according to Pickaway County Jail records.

During the arraignment hearing on Tuesday, Judge Elisa Peters raised the bond to $500,000. Posting bond (10%) will require each defendant to pay $50,000 or put up significant bail bond collateral. Conditions of their release includes no contact with the victim's family and no custody or control over any dogs. A friend of the victim watched both defendants appear in court; she said that neither displayed any remorse. The Withers are due back in court on October 30 for a preliminary hearing.

Felony charges after a fatal dog attack in Ohio are rare. We recorded the first modern case in 2016 after Annie Williams, 71, was killed by a pit bull with a violent past in front of her great-grandchildren in Shaker Heights. Leon Morton pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 30-months in jail. In that same year, a babysitter was convicted of six felonies after her pit bull with a violent past killed a baby in her care in Dayton. Kimiko Hardy was sentenced to three years in jail.

Left: Adam Withers, 35, Susan Withers, 61, and the Pickaway County Sheriff's Swat vehicle.

10/18/24: Woman and Dog Killed
Ashville, OH - A woman died after being attacked by dogs in her condominium complex on Thursday. Police received the 911 call at 3:11 pm. Jo Echelbarger, 73, was outside when two dogs escaped a home and started attacking people, according to witnesses. First responders were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of Kildow Court, part of The Reserve at Ashton Village. Echelbarger was transported to Grant Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead shortly after 4:00 pm.

Ashville Village administrator Bert Cline said the attack was "kind of a shock to the system," adding that dog attacks in the complex are uncommon. He was told that legal action to remove the dogs had been filed in Pickaway County two weeks ago. Cline did not know the details. But a woman named Kimberlee told a private group, "I was attacked by the dog that killed my neighbor last October 26, 2023 2:36 pm. That day forever changed me and sent my life into a downward spiral of PTSD hell."

She publicly discussed the attack on her Facebook page last year. "To date the dog owner failed to meet his requirements … to date dog was evicted by HOA and have ignored the 14 day notice … to date the HOA and the Pickaway Co. Dog Warden want to play a game of tug-o-war over who is responsible for removing the dog." Her puppy "Nemo" was also attacked. "Had he not been with me when I was attacked, I would have been Apollo’s casualty that day. I can never unsee the attack on my sweet boy."

Kimberlee refers to the dog owner as "Adam," and says she was "Apollo's" third human victim and that Nemo was Apollo's third dog casualty.

In the recent attack, a woman who witnessed it wrote on Nextdoor: "I heard the screaming and ran down to see the dogs on top of her." She said police shot one of the dogs five times, but it still retreated into a home. Police had to enter to verify the dog was dead. The second dog also attacked people before it was killed. Shift Capt. Jeff Rosencrance of Harrison Township said that fire and EMS had responded to the same set of condos at least three times in the past year for animal attacks.

Rosencrance did not know if the multiple calls involved the same dog owner or the same dogs. But the dogs that attacked Echelbarger reside on Kildow Court, Rosencrance said. He described the victim's injuries in the recent attack as "a vicious and gruesome attack." Audio dispatch logs from Pickaway County Police and Fire, published by Broadcastify, state on October 17 at 3:13 pm: "You've got an active dog attack. 645 Kildow Court. Caller is advising the dog is attacking a male and his dog."

The local paper, The Scioto Post, published details on Facebook yesterday. "According to reports, two aggressive pit bulls were in the area of Kildow Court where at least one of the dogs attacked a person causing serious injuries." An officer "was forced to use lethal force to protect himself and others in the area." The second pit bull was described as brown. "Within a few minutes, there was a second report of a brown pit bull in the area of Ashville Middle School, where it was attacking another dog."

"Apollo" is a tan male pit bull, owned by Adam Withers. He also owns "Echo," a brown and white male pit bull, potentially of the XL variety. Yesterday, Withers accused a person of shooting "innocent dogs inside private property." He also said, "My neighbor is dead." Some commenters chimed in, "I hope they put you in jail" and "Your dog killed another dog and an old lady." His Facebook page is loaded with pit bull and bully breed memes. It's unclear if Withers has any interests beyond pit bull breeds.

Civil Lawsuits In Progress

On September 16, 2024 Kimberlee sued Withers and the other residents of his Kildow Court home, The Reserve at Ashton Village Condominium Association, and Towne Properties Asset Management Company. Due to "upgrades" on the Pickaway County Common Pleas website, the Complaint is not available to download. On October 8, 2024 Withers Answered the complaint as a pro se defendant. The case status is "open." Black, Kimberlee v. Withers, Adam et al Prk (Case No. 2024CI0211).

Prior to this, on April 4, 2024, The Reserve at Ashton Village Condominium Association sued Withers and the other residents of his Kildow Court home. It is a complaint for "permanent injunction and monetary damages with exhibits filed." A decision was issued on September 11, 2024 that could be favorable to the condo association. A trial is scheduled for November 20, 2024. The case status is "open." Reserve at Ashton Village Condominium Assoc. v. Withers et al Prk (Case No. 2024CI0095).

We have requested the Complaints from the Pickaway County Clerk in each lawsuit to learn more.

The suspected fatally attacking dogs, two male pit bull terriers, Apollo and Echo, respectively.

Jo Echelbarger was killed by vicious dogs at the Ashton Village condominium complex.

Comments on the Scioto Post Facebook post mention a local court victory.

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

1The 2015 notice was directed at one of Susan's dogs, "Abby," a white chihuahua or "Sniper," an English bulldog. In 2017, Adam met Chelsea, according to their wedding website. They got engaged in January 2018 and married in October 2018. During this period, they acquired two male pit bulls, Apollo and Echo, which are seen as puppies on their wedding website. Up until May 2024, the Withers had four dogs at their home at 665 Kildow Court. All complaints about aggression, biting, and attacking -- which began ratcheting up in 2020 -- pertain to the two male pit bulls.

Baseline reporting requirements:
Law enforcement departments across the United States should release consistent "baseline" information to the media and the public after each fatal dog mauling, including these items.

Posted on October 18, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

Macro-Level Forces Report: Covid Impacts of 2022 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Capture Rate of Nonprofit

Dog Bite Fatalities Surged in 2022; a 104% Increase from 2019

DogsBite.org - Last April, we published the 2021 Macro-Level Forces Report for U.S. dog bite fatality data. Current data shows that during 2021, the second Covid year, our nonprofit had a 28-victim deficit compared to CDC Wonder underlying cause of death (UCD) data, a 42% difference in the number of deaths.1 The victim deficit during the third Covid year, 2022, is even higher. CDC Wonder data shows there were 98 dog bite fatalities in 2022. Our nonprofit recorded 56 deaths, a 55% difference.

98 fatal dog attacks in a single year are the most ever recorded by CDC data. This is a 104% increase from 2019 and a 180% increase from 2018.

Prior to the pandemic (2005 to 2019), the largest deficit of unreported deaths our nonprofit had compared to CDC data was 4 each for the years 2005 and 2010. During 2022, there was a deficit of 42 unreported deaths. Without our FOIAs, the deficit would have been 48. The disparity during 2022 is greater than in 2021 and 2020, even though the average number of citations per victim only fell 30% (15.9) in 2022, compared to falling 44% (12.8) in 2020 from the pre-Covid baseline year of 2019 (22.7).

A regional breakdown of dog bite fatalities in 2022 shows that the South and Midwest had the most unreported deaths. According to CDC Wonder data, 69% (68 of 98) of the victims in 2022 were ≥ 45 years old. Our nonprofit only captured 47% (32 of 68) of these deaths. However, we already knew the 50 and older age group was underrepresented in media reports. We discussed this disparity in our 2020 discussion notes (Comparing 15-Year Data Sets - DogsBite.org Data and CDC Wonder Data).

2022 dog bite fatalities by age and region

U.S. dog bite fatalities during the third Covid year, 2022, by Census region and age

Characteristics of Unreported Fatal Dog Attacks (2005 to 2024)

Since 2011, we have uncovered 36 unreported deaths through FOIAs or other means. Most of them, 61% (22), occurred after March 2020. The most likely unreported fatal dog attack is an adult ≥ 40 years old, 75% (27), killed by a single or pair of pit bulls (18 of 27) in an urban area (22 of 27) within a state that prohibits or limits breed-specific laws. Of the 36 total deaths, 72% (26) involved pit bulls, and of that, 65% (17 of 26) involved a single or pair of family pit bulls killing a household member.

72% (26) of the total unreported fatal attacks involved family dogs killing a household member, and 67% (24) involved a single dog attacking.

During 2022, the 6 unreported deaths we uncovered included four males, ≥ 40 years old, killed by 1 or more pit bulls. In one case, the man had adopted the pair of pit bulls two weeks earlier. We also uncovered two child deaths in 2022, both ≤ 1 year old. Of the 8 total unreported child deaths, including the ones just mentioned, 50% (4) were killed by pit bulls, 38% (3) were killed by American bulldogs, and 13% (1) was killed by a mastiff. 75% of these deaths involved a family dog killing the child.

CDC Wonder dog bite fatality data compared to DogsBite.org data over 18 years (2005-2022).

Discussion

Initially, the chart appears to reflect the pandemic kicked off a visible increase in year-to-year deaths. However, the largest increase is from 2018 to 2019, a 37% rise, which occurred pre-Covid. From 2019 to 2020, there was a 29% rise in deaths; from 2020 to 2021, a 31% rise; and from 2021 to 2022 a 21% rise. The chart also shows that during the 37% rise from 2018 to 2019, our capture rate was not impeded. When Covid-19 macro-forces erupted in 2020, our capture rate declined each year after.

The chart also shows that between 2005 and 2018, the average number of deaths per year captured by our nonprofit was 33.86, compared to CDC Wonder data of 33.64. The annual number of deaths during that 14-year period gradually increases but otherwise shows slight variation. After three years of Covid conditions, between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, the average number of deaths per year captured by our nonprofit rose to 52.00, and CDC Wonder data shot up to 80.33.

Thus, one must ask what happened between 2018 and 2022, when the number of deaths per year rose by 180% (from 35 CDC Wonder deaths to 98). The number of dog bite fatalities increased during that period much faster than the 14-year period between 2005 to 2018. After years of annual deaths in the 30s range, CDC data suddenly skips deaths in the 50s range and 70s range. CDC data shows that in 2019, there were 48 deaths; in 2020, 62 deaths; in 2021, 81 deaths, and in 2022, 98 deaths.

Pre-Covid Trends

In our nonprofit's data, several trends were rising before 2019. Between 2005 to 2018, the ages and genders of victims between the first and third periods (2005-2009 and 2015-2018) show that the percentage of fatal dog attacks involving adults, 50-69 years old, rose 77%. This was largely driven by females, 50-69 years old, which rose 98%. Males declined overall, but the 50-69 years old age group rose 49%. During this same period, the percentage of fatal attacks involving pit bulls rose by 29%.

While the number of "actual" rescue dogs involved in fatal dog attacks is impossible to obtain, the percentage of people killed by rescue dogs jumped from 2% during the first period (2005-2009) to 15.9% during the third period (2015-2018), a rise of over 600%. Owner-directed fatal dog attacks rose from 10.7% during the first period to 17.2% during the third period, a 62% rise. Those were some trends heading into 2019, which began the steep ladder increase in CDC data from 2019 to 2022.

Covid 2022 Conditions

In January 2022, the Omicron and Delta variants began surging, causing the U.S. death rate to climb again. Booster shots were in great demand. In March, several regions in China had new lockdowns (tens of millions of people). In April, CDC reported that Covid was the third leading cause of death in the U.S. -- after heart disease and cancer. Meanwhile, Covid-19 continued to wreak havoc on supply chains and labor shortages, both of which contributed to rising prices and inflation around the world.

Possible Covid conditions contributing to the disparity of 42 unreported dog bite fatalities in 2022 aren't as straightforward as in 2020. However, there continued to be "hollowed out staffing" and layoffs in the news media sector. Phrases like "news deserts" -- areas where newspapers no longer exist -- and "ghost papers" gained traction.2-3 More paywalls went up,4 and there continued to be a reduction of media releases from police. All of which impacted our ability to capture more deaths.

Summary

During 2022, there was a 30% (15.9) reduction in the number of citations per victim compared to the pre-Covid baseline year of 2019 (22.7). There was a surge in unreported fatal dog attacks, 42 deaths, and a rise in the total number of deaths to 98 -- the highest ever recorded in CDC Wonder data. This is a 104% increase from 2019 and a 180% increase from 2018. Victims ≥ 45 years old accounted for the most unreported dog bite fatalities, and most attacks occurred in the South and Midwest regions.

Given the increase of fatal dog attacks during pre-Covid 2019 and the surge that followed, we predict another rise in unreported deaths in 2023.

There was a significant increase of fatal dog attacks during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Covid years, but the growth began in 2019. The largest increase occurred between 2018 and 2019, with a 37% rise in dog bite fatalities. What drove that growth likely continued through the Covid years, combined with being impacted by Covid conditions, including more at-risk populations being displaced.5-6 At the same time, our nonprofit's capture rate declined due to lowered media reports instigated by Covid.

2022 Macro Level Forces Report - Citations per victim

U.S. dog bite fatality average citations per-victim for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

1"Current data" may not reflect "past" data due to uncovering new dog bite fatalities from past years. For instance, current data for our 2021 dog bite fatality capture rate shows a 28-victim deficit compared to CDC Wonder data. At the time of the original publication date -- April 18, 2023 -- there was a 29-victim deficit in our 2021 data.
2Rick Edwards, "An updated survey of US newspapers finds 360 more have closed since 2019," Poynter, June 29, 2024 (poynter.org).
3The State of Local News: The 2022 Report, by Penny Abernathy, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, June 29, 2022 (localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu) | "Even though the pandemic was not the catastrophic “extinction-level event” some feared, the country lost more than 360 newspapers between the waning pre-pandemic months of late 2019 and the end of May 2022. "
4Sara Fischer, "Media experts sound alarm on rise of paywalled content," Axios, January 11, 2022 (axios.com).
5Over the 14-year period of 2005 to 2018, we recorded 3 homeless individuals killed by dogs. Just under a 6-year period, from January 2019 to October 2024, we recorded at least 12 homeless individuals killed by dogs. The number is easily higher. Police may not release a victim's "living status" information, and if next-of-kin cannot be located, police won't release the victim's name.
6Kevin Freking, "US homelessness up 12% to highest reported level as rents soar and coronavirus pandemic aid lapses," Associated Press, December 15, 2023 (apnews.org).

Macro-level forces reports:
Macro-Level Forces Report: Covid Impacts of 2021 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Capture Rate of Nonprofit
Macro-Level Forces Report: Covid Impacts of 2020 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Capture Rate of Nonprofit

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Schenectady Man Killed by Pit Bulls Behind Residence in Albany; Police Officer Fires on Vicious Dogs

James Provost, 59-years old, was killed by pit bulls behind a residence in Albany, New York.

Man Killed by Dogs
Albany, NY - A man is dead after being attacked by multiple dogs -- the majority being pit bulls, police said. The fatal attack occurred Wednesday in the 500 block of Central Avenue at about 5:55 pm. Officers responded to reports of a man being attacked by several dogs. "Upon arrival, they observed the dogs fatally attacking the man, and in an attempt to stop the attack, one of the responding officers discharged his duty weapon, striking at least one dog," the department said in a press release.

Albany Police are currently investigating a dog attack that occurred this evening on the 500 block of Central Avenue.

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at around 5:55 p.m., officers responded to the 500 block of Central Avenue for reports of a male being attacked by several dogs. Upon arrival, they observed the dogs fatally attacking the man, and in an attempt to stop the attack, one of the responding officers discharged his duty weapon, striking at least one dog.

The male was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The name of the victim will not be released until proper notifications have been made.

All of the dogs have been accounted for, and the Albany Police Department are currently in the process of placing them in an appropriate homing facility.

At this time the investigation remains active and ongoing. More information will be released as it becomes available. - Albany Police Department

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name will not be released until his next of kin have been notified. All of the dogs have been accounted for; the department is "currently in the process of placing them in an appropriate homing facility." (That's an interesting choice of words, since an adoption center is called a "rehoming facility." We hope these dogs are not going to be rehomed.) A video being shared on social media shows the man being attacked by two dogs and collapsing.

According to an Albany Facebook page, the attack occurred in the backyard of a residence that is close to the car wash between Central Avenue and Bradford Street. "Currently on scene are multiple detectives, animal control officers, and officers ... Currently on scene there is what appears to be a person that did not survive." One commenter claimed to have a "buddy at Albany PD," who said the victim was a homeless man that tried to enter someone's backyard and got attacked by pit bulls.

WRGB captured the video on social media and blurred the images. The video was taken by a witness who heard the man crying for help. WRGB also took a still image from the video and blacked out the victim. You can see his foot on the left side, and you can see two muscular pit bulls in the process of mauling the man to death. In the last moments of his life, all he knew is that he was being ripped apart by the powerful jaws of pit bulls. It's literally a medieval death sentence. It's beyond horrifying.

Press Conference

On Thursday, the victim was identified as 59-year old James Provost of Schenectady. New details were released too. Officers responding to the scene found eight or nine dogs attacking Provost. An officer fired on an adult male dog, killing it, and dispersing the others. After rounding up the canines, police said there were 24 dogs, including 15 puppies. The dogs are owned by a "resident of Cohoes," a city 10 miles north, but were being kept by a caretaker in the backyard of 592 Central Avenue.

Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins confirmed during a news conference that police searched the property back in May after receiving a complaint about drug activity. At that time, five to seven dogs were confiscated, but not due to vicious behavior. They were later released. There are multiple units at the 592 property and multiple residents. The dogs were not being raised in a "family atmosphere," Hawkins said. “There are some very, very questionable activities going on at that place,” he said.

Provost was in the backyard of 594 Central Ave. The dogs, which were being kept at 592 Central Ave., got through the fence and attacked him.

The Albany County District Attorney’s Office is considering if criminal charges are warranted. “It was a horrific attack," Hawkins said. "Obviously, when you’re keeping that many animals in a location in violation of city ordinance, and some of those animals kill a person, there’s certainly a possibility for it." Investigators still do not know why Provost was at the 594 location or if he knew any of the residents. “We’re going to do everything we can to bring justice to this person who was viciously attacked."

Hawkins also explained the "homing facility" term. Police confiscated the dogs and determined where they will be held while police sort out the criminal aspects of the case. What ultimately happens to the dogs, will be determined by the courts. The Albany Police Department is not determining the outcome of these dogs. Police continue to have many unanswered questions. Multiple agencies are investigating, including the health department to determine if 592 Central Avenue is habitable.

This mashup shows the front facing homes and the backyard location of the attack in Albany.

Two views of the backyard (592) where the pit bulls were kept. The dogs got through the fence line and attacked Provost in the adjacent backyard (594) of a home painted green.

A still frame from a video showing a Schenectady man being killed by pit bulls in Albany.

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

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Colleen Lynn

2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Newborn Dies After Being Bitten by Family Dog in Torrance, California

Chevy Womack, 1-month old, died after being bitten by a family dog in Torrance.

Newborn Dies
Torrance, CA - A newborn baby died after being bitten by a family dog Tuesday afternoon. Paramedics were dispatched to a residence in the 2700 block of Martha Avenue around 12:35 pm for a report of an animal bite. "The Torrance Fire Department arrived and discovered that a dog had bit a one-month-old child," the Torrance Police Department said. The Torrance Fire Department transported the child to a local hospital. When Torrance police arrived at the hospital, they were informed the baby girl died.

Upon learning of the child's death, "Detectives responded to the scene and the hospital to conduct a follow-up investigation," Lt. Freddy Ahmad said in a news release. The family owned the dog, and it lived at the residence. The attack occurred inside the home. The infant has been identified as Chevy Womack. Torrance Animal Control took possession of the dog. As of Wednesday, the cause of death is still undetermined pending the Los Angeles County coroner’s investigation, states the release.

NBC Los Angels reports that multiple dogs lived in the home. Authorities seized all of the dogs. NBC spoke to Faye Tohidi, who is a friend of person who lives at the home. Tohidi said she was told, "The dog got ahold of the baby." The dog belonged to the mother, Ahmad said. Detectives are still conducting interviews. Children and Family Services is also investigating, Ahmad said. Torrance Animal Control said the dog involved is a "mixed-breed," which often indicates a "mixed bull breed."

Tohidi, who calls herself a "dog person," told KABC-TV there were three dogs in the home, including a mastiff, pit bull-mix and a mixed-breed dog.

Of the multiple news reports of the infant's death, Tohidi's account is the most impacting. Tohidi had hoped to visit the family today. Then she learned what happened. "I can’t even imagine how the mother feels right now. She must be devastated," she said. Then she offered a warning. "Be aware," she said. "When you have a big dog, and you have an infant in the house, you have to make sure they are completely separate or give your dog away." Tohidi added, "Your newborn needs your attention."

Confirmation of Dog Involved

We received confirmation of the culprit dog from a person who knows the mother. It is the only dog seen on the mother's Facebook page. A male pit bull-mix, apparently "Rambo," that bears striking similarity to the black and white male pit bull-mastiff mixes that killed Joseph Keeton in 2023. Last Halloween, when the mother could not find Rambo, she warned, "Rambo can get aggressive if you have gloves, a helmet, or a mask on. I don't want him running around and mistakenly hurt anyone."

newborn dies dog bite torrance, suspected dog involved

The only dog on the mother's Facebook page is this male black and white pit bull-mastiff mix. The dog is always seen indoors: lying on furniture, lying on the carpet, or inside a car.

newborn dies dog bite torrance, view of the backyard

Top image: The mother's Halloween post about Rambo. Bottom image: KABC's chopper got a shot of the backyard. The soft-sided playpen appears to be keeping puppies inside(?)

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

DogsBite blog ::

Dog Bite Fatalities Surged in 2022; a 104% Increase from 2019