2008 Dog Bite Fatality: Justin Mozer Killed by Jack Russell Terrier

Autopsy Results archived
UPDATE 1/20/08: Officials say a 6-week old baby boy in Lexington died of suffocation and blood loss after being attacked by a family dog. Justin Mozer was sleeping in a bedroom Friday when a Jack Russell terrier attacked him. An autopsy was done Saturday on the infant's body. The Fayette County coroner's office says it showed that he died of traumatic asphyxia, or suffocation, and blood loss due to the dog attack. The manner of death is being investigated as accidental.

Though the baby had a crib, it was napping on a king-size bed that afternoon, said the baby's uncle Jeff Mozer. Without any warning, the dog attacked the baby, he said. The boy's father was at work when the attack occurred, Jeff said. Justin Mozer Senior kept a pit bull in the backyard for protection, Jeff explained. Both dogs were taken into custody by Fayette County Animal Control at the owner's request, reports the Herald-Leader. Jeff said the baby's parents are inconsolable.

Jeff Mozer said Justin Mozer had owned the Jack Russell for six or seven years. "The dog has been around my baby and other babies in the family. There has never been any reason for alarm."

Jeff Mozer said his brother bought the family home at Seven Pines Drive, near Versailles Road and Alexandria Drive, about a year ago and was remodeling it.

The former president of The Lane neighborhood association, Pete Hagan, said that in September 2007, the association sent Justin Mozer a letter complaining about the behavior of pit bulls kept in the back yard. The letter, which Hagan e-mailed to the Herald-Leader on Saturday, said pit bulls routinely got out of the yard and frightened neighbors. But Hagan said he had no problems with the Jack Russell terrier, and he had noticed no problems with the pit bulls since November. - Valarie Spears, Lexington Herald-Leader, January 20, 2008

01/19/08: Family Dog Kills Infant
Lexington, KY - A family dog killed a 6-week old baby yesterday. The attack happened at a home on Seven Pines Drive at about 3:50 pm. Witnesses told police that Justin Mozer was sleeping in a bedroom when the family's Jack Russell terrier attacked him. His mother was in the bathroom, bathing another child at the time. It is unknown if the baby was sleeping in a crib. The family also owns a pit bull. Fayette County Animal Control removed both dogs by request of the owner.

Lillian's Law - Texas State Dangerous Dog Law

Austin, TX - Lillian's Law (HB 1355) is the new Texas State dangerous dog law. Under the law, the owner of a loose dog that causes injury or death can be prosecuted if the owner is found to be "criminally negligent" in failing to prevent the dog from escaping. The third-degree felony charge can bring a sentence of 2 to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If the victim dies, a dog owner can be charged with a second-degree felony, bringing up to 20 years in prison.

Lillian's Law stems from the brutal attack of 76-year old Lillian Stiles, who was killed by a pack of loose pit bull-rottweiler mixes while mowing her front lawn. Lillian's family was shocked to learn after her death that Texas laws do not, in most cases, hold the dog owner responsible for injuries caused by their dogs even when death results. Lillian's family formed a group, Texas Families Against Dangerous Dogs, and succeeded in helping the new legislation get passed.

Note: Lillian's Law did not abolish the Texas "one bite" rule. To gain a conviction under Lillian's Law, prosecutors still must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the dog owner knew or should have known that his dog was going to cause death or severe bodily injury.

Related articles:
10/11/08: Fatal Dog Mauling Trial of Tanner Joshua Monk, 7 Years Old

2008 Dog Bite Fatality: Brooklyn Infant Killed by Family Dog

brooklyn baby killed by dog
Andrew Stein, 8 months old, was attacked and killed by his family's doberman.

Infant Killed by Family Dog
An 8-month old baby in Brooklyn was mauled to death by his family's dog while playing on the floor. Andrew Stein was fatally bitten on the head and left with a crushed skull. The family dog was a 7-year old, neutered male doberman pinscher named Maccabee. The grandmother, who had been babysitting, was in the kitchen at the time. She heard the baby screaming and ran to see what happened. Unable to pull the dog away from the boy, she cried out in desperation.

      Leonardo Collado, 46, the superintendent at the building, about two blocks southwest of Prospect Park, said Andrew’s grandmother screamed in desperation when the dog attacked, but was unable to wrest Andrew free. Mr. Collado said he spoke to the grandmother and a couple from a neighboring apartment shortly after the attack.
      The grandmother "told me she was screaming for help because the dog had the baby on the floor, but she couldn’t get him away," he said. "She said the dog was chewing on his head." - Thomas Lueck, New York Times, January 4, 2008

Emergency personnel who responded to the scene shot the dog, which weighed up to 80 pounds, with a tranquilizer dart and transported it to a shelter operated by New York City Animal Care and Control. The city's health department stated in a news release that the dog and the circumstances remain under investigation. Under city rules, the owner of a dangerous dog must agree to have it euthanized, or a hearing must be held to determine whether the city can order such action.

      As cops investigated what provoked the vicious attack, neighbors described the dog as gentle and said Andrew's parents, Paula and Brian Stein, and his grandmother were very responsible guardians.
      "He's a very sweet, kind dog," said Barbara Bradman, who owns an Animal Fare pet store around the corner from the Steins' apartment building.
      "They've had this dog since he was a puppy. They gave him a lot of love and attention," Bradman said. "This is a horrendous, horrible nightmare." - New York Daily News, January 3, 2008

2007 Dog Bite Fatality: Cora Lee Suehead Attacked by Pit Bulls

Two Family Deaths Follow
UPDATE 07/18/08: Forensic tests have confirmed the cause of Cora Lee Suehead's death: pit bull mauling. The 61-year old woman was found dead near her home December 4th, 2007. The pit bulls were taken from her property and underwent DNA testing. The dogs belonged to a relative who had been living on the Suehead property. The dogs have since been destroyed; no charges were ever filed. In the wake of her death, two family deaths have followed.

      Walter Suehead, 70, the husband of Cora Lee Suehead, the 61-year-old woman who was killed by the dogs, died of natural causes Sunday in an Auburn hospital, officials for Chapel of the Hills in Auburn said.
His wife was found dead Dec. 4 on family property. Four pit bulls belonging to a relative were seized by Placer County Animal Control officers.
The dogs were destroyed Feb. 29 after state forensics tests confirmed the animals had attacked the woman, said Sheriff's Lt. Jeffrey Ausnow.
The Sueheads' daughter, Tammy Cummins, 42, was found dead in an Auburn home Dec. 20. Friends said she had been despondent over her mother's death. - Art Campos, The Sac Bee, Friday, July 18, 2008

02/13/08: No Criminal Charges
Placer County, CA - Pathology results are still pending in the case of Cora Lee Suehead
who was found fatally mauled about 100 yards from her home in December. Until results can be finalized, officials can't contribute her death to the four pit bull dogs they removed from her property. Police determined that no criminal charges are going to be filed. "Detectives have conducted a thorough investigation" and there’s nothing to indicate that the dogs were known to be vicious.

      The body Suehead, 61, a longtime Placer County resident, was found around noon Dec. 4 about 100 yards from her Foresthill home.
"The pathology report is still pending to determine if the dogs contributed to Cora Suehead's death," said Lt. Jeff Ausnow of the Placer County Sheriff's Department. At this time we have determined that no criminal charges are going to be filed."
Suehead's body was found by a family member in an area with heavy shrubbery near a home in the 19000 block of Foresthill Road, said Det. Sgt. Dennis Walsh. She was not dressed for the damp and chilly weather.
Suehead's body had sustained extensive damage caused by animals, said Dena Erwin, spokeswoman for the Placer County Sheriff's Department.
Four pit bulls were removed from the property by Placer County animal control officers. - Penne Usher, Auburn Journal, Feb. 13, 2008

01/01/08: Still Determining Cause of Death
Placer County, CA - 61-year old Cora Lee Suehead was found mauled to death by animals near her home on December 4th, 2007. It is suspected that her pit bulls are to blame. Four of the pit bulls were removed from her property and underwent DNA sampling. Authorities know the dogs attacked her, but they cannot determine if they attacked her before or after she died.

A veterinarian commented: "At this point, there is nothing to indicate that animals contributed to her death. But there is certainly evidence that animals damaged her body after death." So far, local autopsy results have proven inconclusive. Officials now must send samples to the Department of Justice and toxicology. It may take two months to get the results.

In a related tragedy, 16 days later, 42-year old Tammy Cummins was found dead in her Auburn, California home. Tammy was Cora's daughter. Close friends said Cummins may have been despondent over the death of her mother. A toxicology report on Cummins will not be available for a few weeks. As it stands, causes for both deaths are unknown.