Posted on November 13, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Birmingham Woman Found on Roadside in Ensley was Killed by Dogs Coroner Says

A 63-year old Birmingham woman discovered dead on a roadside in Ensley was killed by dogs.

Woman Killed by Dogs
Birmingham, AL - A woman found dead on a roadside in Birmingham's Ensley neighborhood on November 9 was killed by dogs, authorities said Monday. The announcement comes four days after one or more dogs inflicted the fatal attack. The dog(s) responsible, apparently, have not been located either, which means that any person walking in the area is at risk. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 63-year old Sharon Kaye Billups Portis, who lived in Birmingham.

The autopsy performed by the county coroner determined that Portis' injures are due to an "apparent dog attack." Portis was discovered by a passerby just before 6:30 am on the grass shoulder of a roadway in the 2000 block of 18th Street Ensley. Her bicycle was lying a few feet away. She was known to ride her bike frequently. She was pronounced dead on the scene at 6:45 am. Birmingham police are investigating the circumstances around her death. No other information has been released.

On August 26, 2022, at about 1:00 am, a man was discovered dead on a roadway near his bicycle in Channelview, an unincorporated area in Harris County, Texas. He sustained multiple dog bite injuries. There were no witnesses to the attack, and the area is known for packs of stray dogs. The coroner eventually ruled the cause of death was "multiple sharp and blunt force injuries due to dog bites." It is unknown if authorities ever captured the dogs involved or if that investigation yielded any results.

Family Members Seek Answers

Portis' family members believe she was leaving for work late Wednesday night, when she was attacked. She lived about 100 yards away from the location of the attack. Birmingham police say they are investigating, but Portis' brother, Albert Ford, said that no one from that agency has contacted his family. “No one from that agency has contacted any of her family members. She has a mother, she has an 88-year-old mother, no one has contacted her mother or any of her family,” Ford said.

On Thursday, police finally issued a warning to Ensley residents, encouraging them to carry a big stick or pepper spray, since the dog(s) involved have not been captured almost a week after the fatal attack. “We have not been able to identify the animals and we do consider them to be a danger to the public because they are still loose," officer Truman Fitzgerald said. Police are urging animal control to set up traps to capture stray dogs in the area. Yet, it remains unknown if stray dogs were involved.

Meanwhile, Ford and other family members have been combing the neighborhood searching for the dogs before they attack again. "Someone has died. There is a present danger!" he told WVTM. Ford has been looking for surveillance video and doorbell cameras that could have captured the attack. Ford is doing the work that police should be doing, he said. “I'm out here being a detective because I feel there is no detective, and nobody really cares. I mean, that's just kind of the way I feel.”

The director of The Greater Birmingham Humane Society, Allison Black Cornelius, who urged action after Joe Cleveland was killed by dogs in March, said that no one is safe until these dogs are identified and taken off the streets. We agree, especially if this involved a dog pack. There have been multiple cases of the same dog pack killing two people before being caught. Last year in Alabama, a dog pack killed a public health employee after attacking a woman one day earlier, who also died.

"I'm very concerned at the lack of what appears to be an investigation this week into these, who are these animals? Were they owned, were they are wild pack because I understand that her injuries were really I mean really horrendous and horrific. So, we got to figure out what happened." - Allison Black Cornelius

Ford is also shaken by her injuries, and that attacks like this even occur in a civilized society. "Just to even imagine that it's hard to sleep, is hard to rest, is hard to work, because this is inconceivable that something in this day and age in the city of Birmingham. I mean, for real, seriously, I mean, this is just unimaginable that this can happen." However, if you follow this blog, you will know that fatal pack attacks routinely occur in the South, like the near double fatal attack in Louisiana in September.

Sharon Portis, 63, was found dead on a roadside in Ensley after being attacked by dogs.

The area where a woman's body was discovered dead on a roadside in Ensley last week.

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 November 12, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

Man's Death in Springfield Continues to be Under Investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner's Office

Jonathan Mendenhall, 34, died after a dog biting incident in Springfield, Illinois.

UPDATE 04/02/24: In late March, our nonprofit filed a FOIA with the Sangamon County Coroner's Office regarding the cause of death of Medenhall. On April 2, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon stated, "The manner of death was 'accidental'. The dog bites did not contribute to the death."

11/12/23: Man Found Unresponsive
Springfield, IL - On November 6, the Sangamon County Coroner's Office confirmed the death of Jonathan Mendenhall, 34, of Springfield. On November 5, he was discovered unresponsive outside of a residence in the 1200 block of North 15th Street at about 3:35 pm. According to the coroner, "while resuscitative efforts were underway" Mendenhall was bitten several times by a dog. He was taken to HSHS St. John’s Hospital’s emergency room, where he was pronounced dead at 4:04 pm.

"The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, can confirm the death of Jonathan Mendenhall, 34, of Springfield. Mr. Mendenhall was found down yesterday afternoon, outside of a residence, and unresponsive. While resuscitative efforts were underway on Mr. Mendenhall, he was bitten several times by a dog. Mr. Mendenhall was transported by EMS from the residence in the 1200 block of North 15th in Springfield, to HSHS St. John’s Hospital’s emergency room, where he was pronounced deceased at 4:04pm yesterday by hospital staff. An autopsy was done today and the cause and manner of death are pending additional studies. The death remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner." - Sangamon County Coroner's Office

According to the Springfield Police Department, officers arrived at the scene and found a pit bull attacking a man lying on the ground. An officer shot and killed the dog. Two people found Mendenhall unresponsive and tried to give him CPR before help arrived. The pit bull then attacked all three people, police said. The people trying to help Mendenhall sustained minor injuries. The coroner's office has not finalized the cause of death; they are waiting on toxicology reports, which can take six weeks.

We listened to the audio dispatch log files of Sangamon County Public Safety on Broadcastify.com. Because it is a "public safety" feed (not limited to only fire and paramedic), there were multiple cases occurring at once, including, "one suspect down" and the police K9 had "tore up his neck pretty bad." Yes, there was a police K9 in pursuit at the very same time ambulances were sent for the dog attack on North 15th Street. Those victims are called "patients" in the audio files not "suspects."

The feed states that a man was attacked by the pit bull and was "bleeding in the face" and that "one subject has been attacked already, the dog's still at large. possibly attacking a second subject." Within two minutes, police report back to dispatch, "Advised we had to put down the dog." After a second ambulance is sent, we learn that one of the patients is not breathing. "Animal attack, subject down, not breathing." Two other dogs were at the scene. Police said they "need to be corralled."

Mendenhall's Facebook page shows a picture of a young pit bull. A person named Danielle may have been one of the people at the scene who tried to help him. On November 9, she posted: "I Was Fighting For My Life While Trying To Save Yours!!!! Nobody Knows What I Went Thru That Day!" A relative created a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs. Mendenhall leaves behind four children, ages 6, 8, 10 and 12. "Losing a dad so unexpectedly is something unimaginable," the fund states.

WICS reports the basic facts after a suspected dog bite fatality in Springfield, Illinois.

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Taylorsville Woman Dies After Being Attacked by Her Son's Pack of Pit Bulls

A Taylorsville woman dies one week after she was critically injured by her son's pit bulls.

Misdemeanor Charges
UPDATE 04/04/24: A Taylorsville man is facing multiple misdemeanor charges after his pit bulls killed his mother last fall. Jeremy Miller, 38, was charged with seven counts of attack by an animal, a Class B misdemeanor, in Taylorsville Justice Court. The attack occurred on October 31 at a residence in the 4800 block of South Shakestone Drive. Arriving officers had to climb the fence to reach the woman. Officers had to deploy pepper spray on the aggressive dogs to drive them back from the fence.

"As he climbed the fence to enter the backyard, he noticed five smaller-sized pit bulls and one adult male pit bull and one adult female pit bull running freely through the backyard. All of the dogs had blood on and around their mouths and appeared to be in a frenzy ... He also observed that her leg had no flesh on it and only the bone remained ... The dogs were still extremely aggressive, and it took multiple Taylorsville city police officers and animal control officers to keep the dogs away from the victim and contained in the yard. When the female pit bull attempted to escape, (an officer) shot her ... six times and noticed other officers shot her as well." - Parts of the arrest affidavit

Sandra Miller, 63, was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition with “extensive injuries” to her legs, hands and face, "one of which had to be amputated," police said. Officers contacted Miller, who also lives at the home, but was not present when the dogs attacked. He arrived at the home about 20 minutes later. "[He] was clearly upset about his fence being damaged and his dogs being taken by animal control," the affidavit states. Sandra died one week after the attack.

11/07/23: Dies After Amputation
Taylorsville, UT - On Halloween, two people were killed by dogs -- 4-year old Colton Kline and 65-year old David Eller. A third person, a 63-year old woman in Taylorsville, was critically injured by her son's pit bulls. Doctors had to amputate one of her legs. It was announced today that she died of her injuries on Monday. None of the deadly attacks were related to trick-or-treating activities. October 31 just proved to be a day of multiple violent pit bull attacks that led to the death of three individuals.

"We are saddened to confirm the passing of a Taylorsville resident following a dog attack in the backyard of her home a week ago. The victim of the attack suffered critical injuries to her face, hands and legs, including one that required amputation. She died at the hospital on Monday as a result of those injuries, her family confirmed today with police. The 63-year-old woman was attacked on Oct. 31 by two adult dogs and their puppies in the fenced backyard of her home. Additional details can be found in reports today by the local press." - Taylorsville Police Department, November 7, 2023

At about 2:30 pm, Taylorsville police received a 911 call from a woman who was being attacked by her son's pit bulls in the fenced backyard of her home near 4800 South and 2900 West. According to police, it was the victim who called, stating she was being attacked by her son's pit bulls -- a pair of adult dogs and their five puppies. The dogs were actively attacking her when police arrived. Police used pepper spay on the dogs to drive them back then jumped the fence to reach the victim.

She was transported to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition with “extensive injuries” to her legs, hands and face, police said. After the ambulance had left, police and animal control officers tried to capture the pit bulls. At that point, the female pit bull "broke loose," police said, and was shot and killed by officers. The six remaining pit bulls were taken into custody by animal control. Her 38-year old son, who also lives at her home, surrendered the dogs to West Valley City Animal Services.

"Our hearts are heavy today following a dog attack that critically injured a Taylorsville resident. The attack occurred Tuesday in the backyard of the woman's home and involved two adult pit bulls and their puppies, who were all owned by her son. The woman remains in the hospital, where she is being treated for extensive injuries to her hands, face and legs, one of which had to be amputated. The attack was still in progress when police arrived. The dogs were contained in the backyard and officers were able to corral them away from the woman but when one broke loose, it was fatally shot by police to protect them and animal control officers on the scene. West Valley City Animal Services is investigating the attack, along with our department. You can read additional details in stories reported today by the local press." - Taylorsville Police Department, November 2, 2023

KSL-TV reports that the victim was feeding the dogs when they attacked. Her son was not home at the time of the attack. The victim's name and her son's name have not been released. The pit bulls were not registered as required under Taylorsville law. "All of the dogs had to be put down following the attack, and none of them was licensed, which Taylorsville City requires for all animals over 4 months old,” the police statement says, adding “The city also allows no more than two dogs per household."

The victim has since been identified as Sandra Dee Miller.

Location where a Taylorsville woman was attacked by her son's pack of pit bulls.

Posted on November 4, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Four Arrested After Man Killed by Dog Pack, Another Severely Injured in Bienville Parish, Louisiana

Four adults were arrested after a dog pack killed one man and injured another in Bienville Parish.

Human Remains Discovered
Ringgold, LA - Four adults were arrested in connection to the death of one man and another man who sustained severe injuries. On September 27, Davyta Gray, 30, was bitten over 130 times by a dog pack on Pine Street. He underwent five surgeries and nearly died. In late October, Bienville Parish Sheriff’s investigators found human remains on Pine Street. Police later announced that one of two separate dog attacks one day apart resulted in the death of the first victim, Donovan Brooks, 40.

On October 31, police arrested four adults who live at the 2747 Pine Street property. Police believe the body of Brooks had been in a wooded area since September 26 after being moved from where he was killed by the dogs on Pine Street. Charlotte Hubbard, 77; Shawn Hubbard, 32; Gerald Miller, 51, were arrested on charges of negligent homicide and obstruction of justice. Cameron Kelly, 21, was arrested on a charge of accessory after the fact. All four people were booked into the Bienville Parish Jail.

26 dogs -- nine large dogs and 17 small, including four puppies -- were on the property when police arrived. Bienville Parish Sheriff John Ballance said deputies also found a black garbage bag in the woods containing the remains of a large dog. Brooks was last seen by his family on September 26. Brooks told a witness that day he had been bitten by the dogs a day earlier. He told the witness he was headed back to the house on Pine Street to, "'Take care of the dogs,' in his words, Ballance said.

A witness told deputies Brooks was seen that day at a store in Ringgold buying medication for wounds he said he suffered the day before from dog bites. He told the witness he was headed back to the house on Pine Street to, “’Take care of the dogs,’ in his words,” Ballance said.

Another witness said Brooks was seen on his bicycle going to Pine Street. He was dressed in clothing found with the human remains. Also recovered was a billfold with Brooks’ information in it. - KTBS, October 31, 2023

One day later, the dogs brutally attacked Gray. Bienville Parish does not have an animal control department or a facility to house stray animals. The Louisiana Radio Network reports that Ballance confirmed the large dogs involved were part pit bull. “But there were I believe nine that were part Pit and larger dogs that could easily take a human being down,” Ballance said. The social media pages of Hubbard and Miller show a lineage of past and existing pit bulls living and breeding in their home.

Multiple Double Fatalities

Two people killed by the same dogs in separate attacks is rare, but when it occurs, a dog pack is often to blame. In 2022, a pack of seven dogs attacked one day apart near Red Bay, Alabama. The first victim, Michele Sheeks, 44, died of complications weeks later. The second victim, an Alabama Public Health employee, who went to the dog owner's home to follow up, was killed during the attack. In 2014, the same pack of six pit bulls killed two men a few months apart in Lamar, Mississippi.

In 2021, the same dog pack is believed to have killed Tony Ahrens, 52, and Amber Miller, 29, a few months apart in Cocke County, Tennessee.

In 2016, a pack of five dogs killed Valente Aguirre, 58, in a dry canal in near Biola, California. After DNA testing on the five dogs proved inconclusive, the pack was returned to its owner. Three weeks later, the same pack was involved in the death of Robert Simonian, 74, who was found dead with dog bite injuries in the same canal -- at that time the canal was not dry. The cause of Simonian's death was drowning. In 2009, a pack of 16 dogs killed a senior couple hours apart in Lexington, Georgia.

In the most recent death, authorities did not learn about the first attack until after the second one (same as Mississippi case). Even if the parish did have animal control resources, the dogs could not have been seized prior to the second attack, which was not fatal. Most of the double fatality attacks that involve two separate attacks occur in the south in areas with an average population of 2,000. The inability to seize a vicious dog pack after the first fatal attack can lead to another human fatality.