Posted on December 30, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

In Memory of My Aunt Jill: She was Killed in a Savage Dog Attack

Jill Peterson was killed by a pack of vicious dogs in her own backyard in 2019.

Pall Mall, TN - Bessie "Jill" Peterson, 88-years old, was savagely killed by a pack of dogs belonging to her neighbor on February 26, 2019. Her sister, Nina Brown, witnessed part of the violent attack. Jill had gone into her backyard to clear a drainage ditch. The pack of six mixed-breed dogs came from behind and attacked her. "They dragged her down the yard and all of her clothes were off, her shoes, everything. They tore all of her hair out, the casket can't be open, it's like a nightmare," Brown said.

Family members said that Nina, who was 85-years old then, never recovered emotionally from the horrific attack and what followed. The first grand jury issued a No Bill. The second grand jury indicted on two felony counts. The owner, 62-year-old Holly Evans Delk, later entered a plea to one count, allowing dogs to run at large resulting in death. She was sentenced to three years probation. Nina died on August 27, 2023. A relative wrote a poem about what happened to her Aunt Jill that day.

Why Were They There?

We hear your screams,
you were all alone.
Being torn apart,
flesh and bone.

You looked around,
no dogs in sight.
You stepped outside,
into the light.

You stepped outside,
to give seed to the birds.

You looked again,
no dogs in sight.

The recent rain
had been a pain.
The ditch was clogged,
it needed to drain.

You let down your guard.
You stepped from your porch,
into your yard.

They attacked without warning,
no snarls, no growls.
You were their prey,
on that horrible day.

You were scared.
You knew they were fierce.
We hear your screams,
with every pierce.

Why were they there?
Didn't anyone care?

The owner, she knew.
The Sheriff did too.

Six of them
bit, ripped and tore.
You fought for your life,
that would be no more.

Your sister came home,
she looked all around.
She found you,
face down on the ground.

She tried to help.
They came after her.

Why were they there?
Didn't anyone care?

You were here for 88 years.
We'll never forget you,
through all of our tears.

It's just so unfair.
Why were they there?
Didn't anyone care?

You were cold,
as you took your last breath.
No one should suffer,
such a brutal death.

We hear your screams,
as you fought for your life.
We hear your screams,
all day and all night.
💜💜💜💜💜
We love you.
We miss you.
We wish you were here.

From left: In memory of Jill (Brown) Peterson and her sister, Nina Mae Brown.

Posted on December 21, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

Coroner: Dead Before Mauling - Man Found Dead Could be Result of Dog Pack Attack in Big Spring, Texas

Big Spring police suspect that Jasson Bullard, 40-years old, was killed by a loose dog pack.

Post-Mortem Bites
UPDATE 01/08/24: Preliminary autopsy findings indicate that Jasson Bullard, 40, died of pulmonary emphysema with bullae formation, a chronic lung condition, and that animal predation occurred post-mortem. Bullard's death marks the second high profile case in 2023 where post-mortem predation (bite damage) occurred. Bullard's body was exposed in an outdoor location, the Howard County Fairgrounds. The other victim's body, Carol Streit, 65, had been exposed in an outdoor vacant field.

12/21/23: Dogs Suspected in Death
Big Spring, TX - A man found dead Tuesday showed signs of "animal predation," according to the Big Spring Police Department. Officers responded to a call of a deceased person at the Howard County Fairgrounds in the 2900 block of Old State Hwy 80 at about 8:45 am on December 19. A pack of dogs was seen running from the area where the body was found. An autopsy is expected to be performed today. Animal control officers already captured two of the dogs believed to be involved in his death.

NewsWest 9 examines the stray dog problem in the area. They interviewed a resident, who said that "animal control is full, they can't handle anymore." That's why the dogs are roaming around. "The animal control people are swamped." The news agency also identified the victim as 40-year old Jasson Bollard. In 2021, a 46-year old man was killed by a pit bull in the city. Neighbors who witnessed the deadly attack, said the pit bull dragged the man up and down the sidewalk before police arrived.

From Big Spring Police Dept (KBest Media):

12/19/2023

On the 19th of December 2023 at approximately 8:45 A.M., Big Spring Police Department officers were sent to the Howard County Fair Grounds property located in the 2900 block of Old Hwy 80 due to a deceased White/Male individual. Upon arrival officers found a group of dogs run from the area in which the male subject was found. The preliminary investigation has not determined any cause of death though the deceased has evidence of animal predation. An autopsy has been ordered by the Justice of the Peace and is scheduled for 21st of December 2023. The identity of the deceased has been found to be Jasson Bullard 40 years of age. Next of kin has been notified.

Big Spring Animal Control has taken measures to identify, locate and seize two of the dogs involved in this incident.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.

Chief of Police, Chad Williams, Administrative Lieutenant Brian Gordon

A man found dead at a fairgrounds property may have been killed by a dog pack.

Related articles:
05/11/21: 2021 Dog Bite Fatality: Man, 46, Killed by Pit Bull in Big Spring, Texas

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 December 20, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

Suspected Dog Bite Fatality: Man, 29, Found Dead in Garage with Multiple Dog Bites in Miami-Dade County

Police suspect a fatal dog mauling after man was found dead in his garage with multiple dog bites.

Dog Mauling Suspected
Kendall, FL - A man was discovered dead in his home with multiple bite marks. Miami-Dade police suspect he was killed by his own dog. Around 7:07 pm, police and animal control were dispatched to a home in the 12000 block of Southwest 104th Terrace. Police were alerted by a friend of the victim, who had not heard from him since Sunday. When the friend came to his home Tuesday to check on him, he found him dead inside the garage. Miami-Dade animal control officers impounded the dog.

Officials do not know when the attack occurred. "It's hard to tell between Sunday and now when this occurred. Did it occur this morning? Did it occur yesterday," asked Miami-Dade Police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta. "We don't know," he said. A friend and police described the dog as a "mixed-breed," which could mean anything, including a bull breed-mix, such as an American bully. "Regardless of the breed of the dog, this is a very unfortunate circumstance," detective Andre Martin said Tuesday.

“The victim was suffering from numerous dog bites.” - Detective Andre Martin

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death. Police identified the victim as 29-year old Alexander Andres Torres. On Wednesday, neighbors and family members grieved his loss. He was described as a good person, who faced medical challenges that affected his mobility. A family member said Torres has owned the dog for several years. Neighbors described the dog as a medium to large-sized mixed-breed that sometimes got loose but had never harmed anyone.

An update to the WTVJ article now states the dog has been identified as a "terrier-mix" by Miami-Dade County Animal Services (MDAS). Historically, due to the longstanding pit bull ban (which was nullified in October 2023) MDAS has called pit bulls and pit bull-mixes either an American bulldog-mix or a terrier-mix. Torres' death is the first fatal dog mauling in the county since the Miami-Dade pit bull ban was nullified. No images of the dog involved were captured by local media outlets at the scene.

Pit Bull-Mix "Kobe"

The most recent (2022) and featured dog on Torres' Facebook page is a large male pit bull-mix, "Kobe." Posts show that Torres acquired the dog in April 2016 when Kobe was a puppy, indicating the dog was 7-years old. During 2016, he also acquired a pit bull. In July of 2019, he rehomed that dog. "I can longer keep him and don’t want him to go to a shelter," he wrote. Once again, we see an omission by authorities of the predominant bull breed within the "mixed-breed" or "terrier-mix" designations.

The suspected dog involved is a large male pit bull-mix named "Kobe."

A 29-year old man was found dead in his garage on Southwest 104th Terrace in Kendall.

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

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: 59-Year Old Man Killed by Vicious Pit Bull in Yuma County, Arizona; Police Issue Advisory

A 59-year old man was killed by a vicious pit bull in Yuma County on Thursday night.

Previously Attacked a Man
UPDATE 12/17/23: This same pit bull viciously attacked a man six months earlier, according to the victim. Hunter Granlund posted to Facebook Sunday, the "same dog that almost killed me took the life of a man on December 15th 2023." The dog belongs to the "owners of Wellton Towing." Granlund was attacked on June 2. He sustained severe injuries to both of his arms. "If it hadn’t been for a close by neighbor, I’m sure I would have died," he wrote. The post contains multiple images of his injuries.

The attack was reported to animal control, but the dog was returned to its owner. Granlund wrote, "animal controls policy's said to hold and test for the first reported incident this is the second now." Under Arizona's dog attack statute, the owner could face a felony. "A person who owns a dog that the owner knows or has reason to know has a history of biting or a propensity to cause injury ... bites, inflicts physical injury on or attacks a human being while at large is guilty of a class 5 felony."

The circumstances of the fatal attack reported on December 15 were not released by the sheriff's office, including the victim's relationship to the dog and whether the dog was at large at the time. It is only known that the attack occurred the night earlier, and the 59-year old victim was found the next day at about 8:30 am in the 10600 Block of S. Avenue 33E, which is one-third of a mile south of Wellton Towing. The serial biting pit bull was later found dead on Interstate 8 after it ran into traffic.

The same pit bull attacked a man in June, and the dog was returned to its owner.

Man Killed by Dog
Yuma County, AZ - A 59-year old man is dead after being attacked by a vicious pit bull on Thursday night. On December 15, at approximately 8:30 am, Yuma County sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a deceased male in the 10600 block of South Avenue 33E. "The initial investigation revealed a male victim, 59, was attacked the night prior by a canine and sustained fatal injuries. At this time, it is unknown why the canine attacked the victim," states a release from the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.

Police have not yet publicly identified the victim.

The dog fled after the attack. "Continuous efforts to locate the canine have been unsuccessful and is believed to still be at large. The canine is described as a male, gray and white spotted pit bull of approximately 100 pounds," states the release. The release was updated on December 16, stating that the dog had been located after it ran into traffic on Interstate 8 and was struck and killed by a car. "The canine has been located. It was found deceased after it ran into traffic on Interstate 8."

Press Release *UPDATE*
December 16, 2023 -10:10 AM
Vicious Canine At Large*update

Location of Incident: 10600 Block of S. Avenue 33E – Wellton, AZ

UPDATE: The canine has been located. It was found deceased after it ran into traffic on Interstate 8 near mile post 35.
********

Original Release- Dec.15, 2023-9:10PM

On Friday, December 15, 2023, at approximately 8:30 AM the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a deceased male in the 10600 Block of S. Avenue 33E.

The initial investigation revealed a male victim, 59, was attacked the night prior by a canine and sustained fatal injuries. At this time, it is unknown why the canine attacked the victim.

Continuous efforts to locate the canine have been unsuccessful and is believed to still be at large. The canine is described as a male, gray and white spotted Pitbull of approximately 100 lbs.

If the canine is observed, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office advises the public to not approach it and contact animal control or law enforcement.

This case remains under investigation at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this case, please contact the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office at 928-783-4427 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous. You can also visit our website at www.yumacountysheriff.org to submit an anonymous tip.

Information Released By: Tania Pavlak, Public Affairs Specialist