Posted on September 26, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Toledo Woman, 70, Killed by Family Pit Bull-Labrador Mix in Backyard of Home

Diane Knepper, 70, was killed by her pit bull-mix in the backyard of her home on Grantley Road.

Toledo Woman Killed by Dog
Toledo, OH - A 70-year old woman is dead after being mauled by a pit bull-mix. The attack occurred in the backyard of her home in the 4200 block of Grantley Road. Workers from a lawn care company found her body. Toledo police and fire crews responded to the scene just before noon. Police said the victim had "significant injuries possibly caused by her dog." Fire and paramedics were able to move the dog away from the victim in order to render aid to her. She was declared dead at the scene.

The Lucas County Coroner later identified the victim as Diane Knepper. Her cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt and sharp force injuries.

The victim's identity was not initially released, pending notification of next of kin. Lt. Paul Davis, the Toledo Police Department Public Information Officer, said that detectives are conducting a death investigation. Kelly Sears, the dog warden of Lucas County Canine Care and Control, said the suspected canine is a Labrador pit bull-mix, reports the Toledo Blade. News video shows the dark-colored dog behind bars in the warden's truck wearing a red leash. The dog belongs to the victim.

Toledo police released the 911 call to a local media outlet. One hears a frantic lawn care employee reporting the attack. "We're here to mow a customer's grass. There's a dog in the backyard, and the lady's down, face down in the ground," the person states. "The woman next door just said he's been trying to fight the neighbor's dogs, so she must have been trying to control her dog," the person states. They found Knepper on the ground holding her dog's leash. Police continue to investigate.

Toledo Dog Bite Fatalities

After no reported fatal dog maulings in Lucas County over the 15-year period of 2005 to 2019, there have been four fatal attacks in a 2-year period. All of the victims have been adults, 26-70 years old. All of the dogs involved have been pit bulls, of which 75% were family pit bulls. Most recently, Bonnie Varnes, 58, was mutilated and killed by her daughter's pit bull named "Amenia." The dog attacked her as she led the dog into her backyard. Her daughter described Amenia as being vicious “at times."

A Toledo woman was killed by her pit bull-mix in the backyard of her home on Grantley Road.

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

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 September 26, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Killed by Multiple Dogs in Texarkana; Found Dead Inside a Vehicle on Her Property

Dog Owner Charged with Negligent Homicide After Woman's Death

Brenda Witt, 60-years old, was killed by multiple dogs in Texarkana on Sunday.

Dog Owner Charged
UPDATE 10/13/23: On Wednesday, October 12, Chris Scott turned himself into the Miller County Sheriff's Office on the charge of negligent homicide in connection to the mauling death of 60-year old Brenda Witt in September. Scott is the owner of five pit bull-mix dogs -- a mother and four offspring -- that attacked Brenda. After returning from church that day, her daughter found Brenda dead inside an old vehicle on the property, where she had tried to take shelter from the violent dogs.

During the investigation, two other people came forward who claimed they had been bitten by the same dog pack in the past. In Arkansas, negligent homicide is generally a Class A misdemeanor with a penalty of up to one year in prison. Negligent homicide becomes a felony if the operator of a vehicle, an aircraft, or a watercraft is under the influence of a substance or is "fatigued" and causes the death of a person, which would not otherwise constitute murder or manslaughter charges.

Editorial Note: part of the history of this case has been behind a paywall at the Texarkana Gazette. An important detail that other news outlets did not report is that Scott told investigators he owned the female pit bull-mix, and that she had a litter of "eight" puppies about eight months ago. Scott found homes for four of the puppies, but the other four "ran around the neighborhood in a pack," reports the Gazette. Scott told investigators that "he could not even pet the dogs," Sheriff Easley said.

In March 2023, Scott posted images of his female pit bull-mix and her eight puppies.

09/26/23: Woman Killed by Multiple Dogs
Miller County, AR - On Sunday, September 24, 2023, at approximately 6:50 pm, Miller County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a residence on County Road 18 regarding a deceased person. Upon arrival, deputies were able to identify the victim as Brenda Witt of Genoa, Arkansas. Based upon evidence at the scene, investigators determined she was the victim of an animal attack. The suspected dogs involved were located and detained with assistance from Texarkana Animal Control.

Though the sheriff's office had not received previous reports about this "pack" of dogs, since Witt's death, other reports have surfaced. The sheriff's office stressed that no animal control department services the county. Texarkana, the county seat of Miller County, assisted. The breeds of dogs were not released, nor was a description of the dogs. The victim's brother, Tony, organized a fundraiser to help pay funeral costs. "She tragically lost her life 9/24/2023 in a horrible dog's attack," he wrote.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE 9/25/2023

****Prior to this incident, NO reports had been made regarding these specific animals. However, since this incident, other reports have been made in reference to this "pack" of dogs.

****Also note, Miller County does not have an animal control department that directly services the county. In this matter, Texarkana, Arkansas Animal Control did assist in the capture and detainment of the animals.

PRESS RELEASE

On Sunday, September 24, 2023, at approximately 6:50 in the evening, Miller County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a residence on MC 18 regarding a deceased person.

Upon arrival, Deputies were able to identify the victim as Ms. Brenda Witt of Genoa, Arkansas. Based on the evidence found at the scene, Detectives were able to determine Ms. Witt was the victim of an animal attack. The suspected canines involved in this offense were located and later detained with assistance from the Texarkana, Arkansas Animal Control Di vision. The canines are being held and examined to determine their involvement in this offense. At this time, the investigation is still on-going.

A local resident states that Witt is 60-years old. While not verified by the sheriff's office, the resident states the deadly dog attack occurred outside during the daylight hours while Witt was in her yard or the vicinity of it. Witt tried to take refuge in an old vehicle on the property, which had no battery in it, so she could not honk the horn, the resident wrote. "She was in serious condition and had no cell phone to call for help with. That is where she was found this evening by her family," the resident wrote.

Back in January, 66-year old Doris McBurse was found dead inside a vehicle on her property after being attacked by one of her blue nose pit bulls in Pitts, Georgia. The dog had previously been chained on the property, but the animal broke free that day and attacked her. She and her husband had owned the dog for several years. Her husband, Harris McBurse, had been breeding and selling pit bulls for some time. He advertised both red and blue nose pit bulls for sale on his Facebook page.

Pit Bull-Mixes Identified

On Tuesday evening, Miller County Sheriff Wayne Easley confirmed that all five dogs involved are pit bull-mixes, according to a report by KSLA. The dogs are currently in custody at Texarkana Animal Control. At least two other people previously bitten by the dogs have come forward. The victim's daughter had gone to church that Sunday, leaving her mother at home. When she returned from church, she found her mother dead inside of a car on the property. Multiple dog bites were visible.

killed by multiple dogs texarkana, press release

The Miller County Sheriff's Office issued a press release after multiple dogs killed Brenda Witt.

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

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Dies After Vicious Attack by Two Pit Bulls in Kennewick, Washington; Owner Charged with Felony

Pit Bull Owner Sentenced to 10 Months After Submitting Guilty Plea

Billene "Billi" Cameron, 65, died after a vicious attack by two pit bulls in Kennewick.

Judge Sentences Dog Owner
UPDATE 08/01/24: The owner of two pit bulls that killed a Kennewick business owner last year was sentenced to months in jail. Sara Amilia Madrigal, 34, was sentenced on July 31 on a charge of dog attack causing injury or death. Madrigal's pair of pit bulls, Mando and Macani, had previously been declared dangerous and had a history of getting loose prior to attacking Billene “Billi” Cameron and her small dog on September 20, 2023. Cameron died the next day due to medical complications.

Judge Diana Ruff sentenced Madrigal to 10 months with work release, more than double the amount of four months recommended by prosecution, reports the Tri-City Herald. Due to sentencing guidelines, the maximum sentence was only 365 days. "She had dangerous dogs roaming the neighborhood, she knew they had attacked people and animals before," Ruff said. Ruff believed that four months was insufficient for allowing legally declared dangerous dogs to roam the community and kill someone.

Judge Ruff also ordered that Madrigal cannot own a dog for the next five years and will be subject to restitution to be determined at a future time.

"Instead of moving heaven and earth to get these dogs back safely in her yard, she gave up the search and they attacked someone who, in the law, we call an eggshell, who was at heightened risk of dying," Ruff said. When police located Madrigal after the attack, she allegedly told them she kept the dogs in the backyard because she didn't think they were safe to have in the house with her children. Madrigal said she found a hole in the fence after the dogs escaped that day and had been working to fill it.

12/19/23: Owner Charged with Felony
A woman has been criminally charged after the fatal pit bull mauling of Billene "Billi" Cameron on September 21. The Tri-City Herald reports that Sara Amilia Madrigal, 34, of Kennewick, is facing one count of dog attack leading to serious injury or death under the Washington state felony dog attack statute. Madrigal faces up to 5-years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted of the charge. Two years prior to killing Cameron, both of Madrigal's dogs had been legally declared dangerous.

According to the probable cause statement written by Benton County Deputy Prosecutor Tyler Grandgeorge, both pit bulls had been declared "potentially dangerous" (or "dangerous") by Benton County Animal Control after they charged a German shepherd and bit the owner in 2021. The pair of pit bulls, Mando and Macani, originally belonged to Madrigal’s ex-boyfriend, but she kept the dogs after the couple broke up, and he no longer wanted to be responsible for them, reports The Herald.

One month after the 2021 incident, the dogs escaped their property again, and Madrigal had to apply for permits to keep them. This was when Madrigal officially took ownership of the two pit bulls. One year later, the dogs were again identified as "potentially dangerous," according to court documents. Details of the third incident are unknown, but at that time, Madrigal was informed for at least a third time by officials about her responsibility of owning dogs declared "potentially dangerous."

Washington state has a two-tier designation for dangerous dogs, "potentially dangerous" and "dangerous," the latter being more severe. It appears the first three incidents (even combined) did not reach the level required for a "dangerous" declaration. The felony dog attack statute accepts both designations, and no previous designation is necessary if prosecutors can show the dog owner "knew or should have known that the dog was potentially dangerous" as defined in the statute.

(3) The owner of any dog that aggressively attacks and causes severe injury or death of any human, whether or not the dog has previously been declared potentially dangerous or dangerous, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a class C felony punishable in accordance with RCW 9A.20.021 ... In such a prosecution, the state has the burden of showing that the owner of the dog either knew or should have known that the dog was potentially dangerous as defined in this chapter.

09/22/23: Woman Dies After Mauling
Kennewick, WA - A 65-year old woman is dead after being mauled by two pit bulls that entered her home. The attack occurred on Wednesday, September 20, at about 2:00 pm at her residence in the 6600 hundred block of West Victoria Avenue. The Benton County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and arrived in time to pull the dogs off her, reports the Tri-City Herald. She died on September 21 due to complications related to surgery at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richmond.

Audio dispatch log files from Tri-Cities Police and Fire located on Broadcastify.com state one of the dogs was outside while medical responders were en route. The "aggressive dog is still outside the residence," the dispatcher states. The victim's bleeding was not controlled, apparently. "It was mentioned trying to put on a tourniquet," the dispatcher states. "Significant bites to the legs and bleeding," the dispatcher states seconds later. By that point, a deputy was on the scene.

The victim, Billene "Billi" Cameron, and her husband, Dwayne Woodard, own a popular business. They and their son, Jackson, established Woody’s BullPen Bar & Grille, a sports bar on the westside of Kennewick. Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Horacio Gonzalez said the dogs' owner has been identified. The investigation is active, but no arrests have been made. The dogs are being held by Benton County. The victim's daughter, Jordan, announced her mother's death on her Facebook page Thursday.

"It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of my Mom's passing early this morning September 21st. We're raising money for her end of life services. There will be a celebration of life planned. If you can help support in any way, not just monetarily, it would be greatly appreciated!" - Jordan Woodard

Jordan also organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to help pay the costs of her funeral and celebration of life services. "It is with a heavy heart that I bring the news my wonderful, amazing, kind, spunky mother passed away due to complications with a surgery at Kadlec Hospital on the early morning of September 21st." Jordan described her mother as, "Anyone who knows her knows that she was a light in her community and a pillar for those around her." The fund has so far raised over $9,000.

Dog-on-Dog Attack

A cousin of the victim, Vern Lampman Jr., said the attack occurred in her yard -- not inside her residence. As we initially suspected, it appears to have started as a dog-on-dog attack. Lampman states, "She gave her life rescuing her dog from the pit bulls." Under different circumstances, in March, Donald Gibson, 66, died after trying to break up a fight between his two rescue pit bulls in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gibson had previously owned a popular burger joint, Ralph's Hot & Juicy Burgers.

Dog-on-Dog Attack Confirmed

Nearly a week after Cameron's death, Apple Valley News interviewed her daughter, Woodard, who thanked them afterward for telling the "full story with the correct facts." Woodard confirmed that Cameron ran outside to save her dog "Diego" from the pair of pit bulls. One of the pit bulls followed her inside and started attacking Cameron instead. She was rushed to a hospital, where the damage from the attack became more evident than initially thought. A blood clot ultimately stopped her heart.

Diego survived the incident. The case remains under investigation. The post in the Missing Pets Pasco-Kennewick-Richland Washington Facebook Group about one of the pit bulls involved has since been removed. The author of the post states in comments, "The two dogs involved in the incident are with the Benton County, WA Canine Shelter now. There is an ongoing investigation. Owner has been identified. Unfortunately, the lady that was attacked died from complications following surgery."

The Tri-City Herald reports on another Facebook post by Cameron's cousin. Lampman Jr., stated four days ago that Diego suffered serious injuries and internal organ damage, "The pit bull had the pug in his mouth and was shaking it." Cameron was able to get her dog away from the pit bull "and was severely attacked in the process." A neighbor saw the attack unfold and climbed a 6-foot fence to help. Lampman then shared details of the chilling account, of which police released nothing about.

"As of yesterday, Billi's pug was still alive. He has serious puncture wounds and some internal organ damage. The pit bull had the pug in his mouth and was shaking it. Billi managed to get her dog away from the pit bull and was severely attacked in the process. The neighbor behind her property saw what was happening and climbed over the 6' fence, falling in onto Billi's property. He used his cane to beat the pit bull which allowed Billi to escape into her house. The 2nd pit bull followed her into her house and continued the attack. In the meantime, the neighbor found a shovel and ran into the house. He used it to get the dog away from her. She then managed to get into her bathroom, closed the door, and called 911." - Vern Lampman Jr., September 24, 2023

Kennewick woman dies after attack by pit bulls

One of the dogs involved in the fatal attack was pictured on the Missing Pets Pasco-Kennewick-Richland Washington Facebook group page on September 21, 2023.

A relative of the victim states the attack began as she tried to rescue her own dog.

The attack occurred at a residence in the 6600 block of West Victoria Avenue in Kennewick.

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

Posted on September 17, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

British Prime Minister Vows to Ban the XL Bully by the End of the Year After a Rising Number of Violent and Fatal Dog Attacks

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, vows to ban the American XL bully breed.

Vows to Ban XL Bully
London, UK - On Friday, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, announced that the government will ban the XL bully by the end of the year. "It's clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs. It's a pattern of behavior, and it cannot go on," Sunak said in a televised statement. The announcement came after two dogs, believed to be XL bullies, killed 52-year old Ian Price one day earlier in Stonnall, and after multiple fatal attacks inflicted by XL bullies in the past two years.

"The American XL bully dog is a danger to our communities particularly our children," Sunak said Friday. "I share the nation's horror at the recent videos we've all seen. Yesterday, we saw another suspected XL bully dog attack, which has tragically led to a fatality," Sunak said. "Today I have tasked ministers to bring together police and experts to firstly define the breed of dog behind these attacks with a view to then outlawing it. It is not currently a breed defined in law," minister Sunak said.

"We will then ban the breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and new laws will be in place by the end of the year. These dogs are dangerous. I want to reassure the public that we will take all necessary steps to keep people safe," Sunak said in his statement. Last July, DogsBite.org discussed how the UK government could define this status bull breed, known interchangeably as an XL pit bull or XL bully. The XL is one of four sizes of the bully but the United Kennel Club (UKC) only recognizes one.

According to the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC), the Standard bully -- the only size the UKC recognized in 2013 -- and the Classic bully are both medium to large sized blocky headed bull breeds with muscular bodies between 17 and 20 inches at the withers. The Classic has a lighter body frame with the appearance of an "old style American pit bull terrier." The XL reflects the "heavily muscled, massive, bulky body type" of the Standard but is beyond 20 inches, states the ABKC website.

The American bully is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in the United States or the Royal Kennel Club (RKC) in the United Kingdom.

According to the UKC, the American bully is a "natural extension of the American pit bull terrier." As we stated in our piece last July, too many close pit bull breeds have been able to evade detection under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Along with the XL bully, American bulldogs should also be outlawed by the Act. American bulldogs began being imported and cross-bred in the UK as early as 19991 and are part of the foundation stock -- a "cross-breed ingredient" -- in the development of the XL bully.

Size of a Serial Killer

What about the multiple sizes of the bully? If the XL bully ban is due to a "pattern of behavior," does it matter if the dog is 17 or 20 inches at the withers? One person recently asked us, "Would we not arrest Ted Bundy if he were shorter than another serial killer?" The fourth size, the pocket bully, is under 17 inches. The "Pocket bully," despite their misleading name, as these dogs are weighty and muscular, are not part of the UK conversation currently, but the Standard and Classic bully sizes should be.2

Furthermore, the Classic bully is nearly indistinguishable from the pit bull terrier, according to the ABKC's website. The only difference is that the Classic has "overall more bone and substance than the modern and more 'terrier type' American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier." If any of the American bully-types are already UKC registered American pit bull terriers, they are eligible to be transferred to the American bully breed, according to documentation on the UKC's website.

"Killer Kimbo"

The UKC's Most Wanted Kimbo bloodline has also been a focal point in the UK recently. We first learned of Kimbo in 2014 after one of his offspring, "Niko," killed 4-year old Mia Derouen. At that time, Kimbo was well known in the bully community to "spit HA (Human Aggression) in his offspring." A researcher with UK-based Bully Watch, Gloria Zsigmond, recently determined that half of all breeding American bullies in the UK are linked to Kimbo's bloodline. The XL bully gene pool is that narrow.

We also addressed Kimbo last year after a pair of "family" XL pit bulls killed two children and nearly killed their mother. The one-year anniversary of the double fatal mauling of 5-month old Hollace and 2-year old Lilly Bennard is October 5. One or both of these dogs descended from the RGB King Lion bloodline. Both King Lion and Kimbo are known as "godfathers" of the XL bully movement. If they're not in your XL bully's pedigree, you're not buying a "top quality dog," states the XL bully fan club.

Critics of the Ban

A primary critic of the prime minister's announcement to ban the XL bully is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). The argument of the RSPCA, an organization that has no mission to protect human lives, can be summed up by a wholly false statement recently made to The Spectator: "There is no specific research to demonstrate that selection for fighting results in dogs that are more aggressive towards people than other dogs," said RSPCA spokesperson Sam Gaines.

"Breed-specific laws are Constitutional in the United States because it has been proven in our courts that due to the selection for fighting, pit bulls, compared to other breeds, exhibit behavioral traits during an attack that have a higher likelihood of causing more severe injuries and death." - DogsBite.org, September 17, 2023 3,4,5

The RSPCA recently came under fire by proponents of the XL bully ban after it was publicized that the RSPCA's pet insurance policy refuses to cover any third party liability claims for dogs required to be registered under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, or any American bulldog, American Staffordshire terrier, Irish Staffordshire terrier, presa canario, cane corso, bandog, South African mastiff, additional mastiffs, wolf-dog hybrids and any cross-breeds of these dog breeds, like the American XL bully.

Six large bull breed-crosses that seriously injured or killed a person in the UK since 2016.

1Back in 1999, the RSPCA's attitude, at least their Chief Veterinary Officer's attitude, appeared more concerned about dogfighting and public safety. Speaking of the American bulldog, Chris Lawrence told the BBC, "This has all the potential to be equally as great a problem as the pit bull was. We have at least legislation to control them. What we have here is dogs which are potentially really nasty and really vicious." Several years later, however, while serving as the Chief Veterinary Officer of the DogsTrust, Lawrence changed his tune. In 2007, during a meeting of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) which discussed dangerous dog laws, Lawrence said that any breed of dog could bite, and that breed and size of dogs was not the issue. Lawrence also said, "We'd like to see Section 1 removed completely." Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act is the section that bans four fighting breeds: American pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Brasileiro.
2Not long after publishing this post, an account of a 13-year old boy savagely attacked by a pocket bully in the UK in June 2023 emerged. His mother said, "They look like the big ones but are smaller and are just as dangerous." The pockets are not necessarily small dogs. Though lower to the ground, they can be extremely chunky and powerful. "He thought he was going to die. The dog was smashing into the door to try and get back to him.”
3Constitutionality of Breed-Specific Laws in the United States - DogsBite.org
4United States Appellate Court Decisions Regarding the Dangerousness of Pit Bulls - DogsBite.org
5One City's Experience: Why Pit Bulls are More Dangerous and Breed-Specific Legislation in Justified, by Kory A. Nelson, Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Denver, Municipal Lawyer, July/August 2005.

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Dog Owner Charged with Negligent Homicide After Woman's Death

Pit Bull Owner Sentenced to 10 Months After Submitting Guilty Plea