Posted on July 8, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

2005 Dog Bite Fatality: 4-Year Old Boy Killed by Uncle's Pit Bull in Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Cody Adair, 4-years old, was killed by his uncle's chained pit bull in Bartlesville.

Bartlesville, OK - Cody Adair, 4-years old, was killed by his uncle's chained pit bull on December 30, 2005. Cody had been playing alone on the front porch before the attack. His mother, siblings, and uncle were inside the home. The uncle's pit bull was in the backyard, chained inside of a pen. When Cody wandered into the backyard and got inside the pen, the male pit bull attacked and killed him. Cody was transported to Jane Phillips Hospital, but was declared dead upon arrival.

According to the Dec. 31 Bartlesville Police Department incident report, officers were informed at 4:15 p.m. that a child had been killed by a pit bull dog at a residence in the 200 block of Southwest Seminole Avenue.
At that time, it was disclosed that the boy, later identified as Cody Adair, had “extensive neck and throat injuries from the attack by the pit bull dog.”
The boy was found dead from the attack.

The dog responsible for the attack was described as a tan and white pit bull dog with blood on its face and both front paws. According to police, the dog was on a 1-inch thick chain that was connected to a cable. The cable was connected to a pole stationed in the ground. - Examiner-Enterprise, January 30, 2016

The pit bull was about 18 months old and belonged to Christopher Lewis, the boy's uncle. It was given to Lewis six months earlier by an "unknown male at a local convenience store," reports the Examiner-Enterprise. Lewis told police Cody had played with the dog before without incident. The police report states Cody had "severe trauma" to his neck under his chin, leaving his head nearly severed. His left ear was completely chewed off and only a portion of his right ear remained.

Another smaller pit bull -- about 6-months old -- was also at the home. The puppy had blood on its forehead, nose, mouth and front paw, reports the Enterprise. Both pit bulls were later euthanized. Cody's mauling death, and other violent attacks by pit bulls in the area, strengthened Rep. Paul Wesselhoft's (R-Moore) resolve to regulate pit bulls in the state. "The pit bull is genetically programmed to fight and to kill its prey and sometimes you just cannot turn that off," he said.

Archived articles:
01/03/2006: Parents bury 4-year-old killed by dog
01/04/2006: Pit bull terrier kills 4 year old Bartlesville boy
01/09/2006: Child's death strengthens lawmaker's resolve to ban pit bulls

Posted on June 30, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

2007 Dog Bite Fatality: Mary Bernal Killed by In-Law's Pit Bull

Pit Bull Scalps Victim
Deltona, FL - A pit bull that often shared a bed with its owners viciously attacked and killed a 63-year-old woman that had been visiting the family. It almost tore off the thumb of one of its owners as she tried to get the dog off her sister. It wasn't until a deputy sheriff shot the dog with a stun gun that it released its grip on the victim.

In this time, the dog had pulled off the woman's entire scalp and bitten her severely about the face. Mary Bernal of Dallas, Texas, died at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where she was airlifted after the attack in the backyard of her sister's home on Roble Lane. Her husband Rudy Bernal, was in a state of horrified shock.

"[The pit bull] was dragging her, and all her scalp was hanging by her side. He wouldn't turn her loose. He would let her go. I saw police shoot the dog with a stun gun. That's the only way they could cut him loose." - Rudy Bernal

The attack began when Mary went into the backyard and picked up the couple's pet dachshund. Estela Macias, who tried to get the dog away from her sister, was sent to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford for her injuries. "My sister-in-law is dead," she later told reporters as he wiped away tears. "I don't know what happened."

Eliasar Macias, the husband of Estela and the dog's owner, said he was stunned that his sister-in-law was killed and his wife was injured by the dog. He said that his dog never had any problems and that "he was a real friendly dog until now." He also said that the dog often slept with the two. The dog had been in bed with his wife that morning.

Witnesses said Mary Bernal, 63, was visiting her sister, Estela Macias, 52, when she bent down to pick up another dog in the backyard. That was when the pit bull attacked. One of deputies used a taser on the dog to get it to stop attacking.

Bernal was flown by a sheriff's office helicopter to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach with a critical head wound. She later died at the hospital.

Ealiasar Macias, the owner of the dog and husband of the victim's sister, said he had never seen their male pit bull snap before.

Estela Macias was taken to Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City by ambulance. She was bitten on the hand and arm. Macias also reported having chest pain. - Central Florida News 13, June 29, 2007

Animal Control found 3 adult dogs and 6 puppies in the house, including a pregnant pit bull. "Beware of Dog" signs hung on both sides of the house, but neighbors said neither Tas, the killer pit bull, nor the family's other pit bull was ever a problem. Animal Control took Tas and planned to destroy it after Marcias agreed to surrender the animal.

Posted on June 30, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

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Posted on June 28, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

2008 Dog Bite Fatality: Great-Grandmother Killed by Her Two Family Dogs in Titusville

Victim Killed by Own Dogs
Titusville, FL - Police say a 74-year old Titusville woman was killed by her two family dogs. The woman suffered a dislocated shoulder and too many bite injuries on her body to count. "This poor woman endured a vicious attack," Lt. Todd Hutchinson, a Titusville police spokesman, said. Police think Lorraine May was breaking up a fight between the dogs. The dogs, which she had owned since puppies, had a history of fighting with each other, and were reportedly mother and son.

Police theorize that May was breaking up a fight between the dogs, who, according to a relative, are mother and son. The animals, which May had owned since they were puppies, had a history of fighting with each other, Hutchinson said.

The relative said the 11-year-old female golden-retriever mix is named Sammy, and the 6-year-old male Australian-shepherd mix is called Seth.

They are being held in separate cages at Brevard County Animal Services and Enforcement in Melbourne while workers there conduct an investigation, said the services' Capt. Bob Brown. They could be euthanized as early as next week. - Susan Jacobson, Orlando Sentinel, June 28, 2008

Autopsy results showed that May died of multiple "blunt-force trauma" caused by the dogs. According to a relative, an 11-year old female golden-retriever mix named Sammy, and a 6-year old male Australian-shepherd mix named Seth were involved in the attack. Both dogs were taken into custody and are being held in separate cages at Brevard County Animal Services while the investigation continues. Animal Services had received no prior complaints about the animals.

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