Posted on February 3, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Man Killed by Pack of Dogs in Tucumcari, New Mexico; Dramatic Police Lapel Video

Tucumcari Dog Owners Face Two Felony Offenses After Deadly Dog Mauling

Stanley Hartt, 64, was killed by a pack of dogs while walking in Tucumcari, New Mexico

Owner Speaks Out
UPDATE 02/15/23: A dog owner charged with two felony offenses after his dogs escaped their property and killed a man claims his mother is to blame. 64-year old Stanley Hartt was discovered dead on February 1 after being mauled by a pack of dogs belonging to Kristopher Morris and his mother, Mary Montoya. Both were charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony possession of a dangerous dog. Officers shot and killed one of Morris’ dogs named “Zena” at the scene.

Morris got Zena in 2020 then gave her to his mother who had a backyard until he found a home that allowed large dogs. On Morris’ social media pages, a male dog named “Blu” is also seen. That dog, a Labrador-pit bull cross, also appears on his mother’s Facebook page, and seemingly on the lapel video from police, who confiscated the dog that night at Montoya’s home. Blu has similar markings on his right lower leg. Blu had escaped Montoya’s home on December 20.

Dramatic Lapel Camera Video

KOB obtained lapel camera footage from officers who responded to the attack. In the video, police tell a woman that “a pack of dogs” killed the man. She replies, “Do you really think it was dogs that did this? It looks like he got run over or something.” After police shot Zena, which had blood its snout, they spotted another dog. That search led them to Montoya’s home, who initially told officers she only had a puppy. Then officers saw a blue dog inside of a crate with blood on its face.

“That’s the dog we were chasing,” the officers states (which can be heard growling in the background). Montoya feigns, “Are you serious?” But, “She’s only a puppy.” The caged dog has similar right paw markings as Blu, but in January 2022, Zena had a litter of puppies, several of which were blue. So, at the very least Blu sired that litter. By viewing Montoya’s Facebook Timeline, it becomes clear that Blu died two or three days after escaping on December 20.

According to Montoya, Blu “got hit by a car and broke his back.” When asked if his back could be fixed, Montoya said, “No it was very bad.”

As stated in the arrest affidavit, the female blue Labrador-pit bull cross named “Lady” is likely the caged dog seen in the lapel video. Lady was very likely an offspring of Blu. The female dog shot at the scene, “Zena,” is a red boxer, pit bull and Labrador” mix. The tan German shepherd-mix involved in the attack, “Tank,” did not appear in any social media posts of Monotoya or Morris, nor did two smaller dogs confiscated by police from Montoya’s home, named “Oreo” and “Spike.”

Despite all of the “Labrador“ mix language in the arrest affidavit and by Montoya, she primarily posted pit bull advocacy memes after Blu died just before Christmas, such as a “Pit Bull Prayer,” and “We’re Lovers not Fighters” and “I am a pit bull, I am a best friend, I am a family member … I am misunderstood.” Finally, it seems incredulous that Morris would blame his mother for the dogs habitually escaping since she told police, "she takes care of [his dogs] because he does not."

Zena seen on the dog owner's TikTok page prior to the fatal pack attack in Tucumcari.

Lady (left) the likely offspring of Blu (right) seen on the lapel footage after fatal pack attack.

02/08/23: Dog Owners Face Felonies
On Wednesday, authorities arrested and charged a mother and son in connection to the mauling death of Stanley Hartt. Mary Montoya, 50, and Kristopher Morris, 27, each face one count of felony involuntary manslaughter and felony possession of a dangerous dog. Hartt was discovered dead on February 1 at an intersection in Tucumcari. Investigators said his body had “numerous bite marks” and large portions of his legs appeared “to have been eaten away by animals.”

According to the arrest affidavits, investigators found the dog pack shortly after the fatal attack; one of the dogs had blood on its snout. A deputy shot and killed that dog, described as a boxer-lab-pit bull mix “to prevent further harm to the public.” Deputies shot a second dog too, but that dog fled down an alley on West High Street. Deputies followed that dog, which also had blood on its face, to Montoya’s home in the 400 block of West High Street, where she let the dog inside.

State police said Montoya told investigators that multiple dogs lived with them, including dogs named Lady, Oreo and Spike. Montoya said the dogs “belonged to her son, but she takes care of them because he does not.” The dog that was shot and killed by the Quay County deputy, “Zina,” often jumped the fence in the backyard and had bitten at least two people previously, according to the affidavit. Montoya said the dogs would habitually leave the house and “return hours later.”

Morris also admitted to investigators that his dogs had a history of escaping the property and attacking residents, but “claimed the dogs were not aggressive.” Morris even showed police where in the broken fence the dogs would escape. Police characterized the fence as being in “severe disrepair.” Both the mother and son were charged because both were aware the dogs were dangerous, allowed them roam freely, and did nothing to prevent the dogs from escaping.

Mary Olimpia Montoya and Kristopher Jaquaris Morris were charged with multiple felonies.

02/03/23: Man Killed by Dog Pack
Tucumcari, NM - On Thursday, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau announced that a man in Tucumcari had been killed by a pack of five dogs. The Quay County Sheriff’s Office requested that the agency investigate the death of 64-year old Stanley Hartt. The deadly attack occurred on February 1 at about 8:00 pm while Hartt was walking on 11th Street near Gamble, states the release. Hartt was pronounced dead at the scene by the Office of Medical Investigator.

One of the five dogs was “euthanized by a Quay County Sheriff’s deputy” following the attack, states the release. The remaining dogs have been located and turned over to Quay County Animal Control, states the release. All five dogs were initially described as mixed-breeds. In an advisory update, while authorities still searched for the dogs, the Quay County Sheriff’s Office described one of the dogs as a “tan German Shepherd mix.” The last dog was found by 11:00 am Thursday.

The Quay County Sun spoke to Tucumcari City Manager Paula Chacon, who said that a full-time animal control officer for Tucumcari would likely begin work this week -- police had been handling animal complaints during the absence of this. Both Undersheriff Russell Shafer and Tucumcari Mayor Ralph Moya said that a fatal dog attack was unprecedented in the city and county, which is about 175 miles east of Albuquerque. “I’ve never heard of a dog attack like this,” Shafer said.

The Sun also noted that Hartt had recently written a guest column for the publication. In a piece titled, “Best days still coming for Tucumcari,” published in November 2022, Harrt wrote that he had settled in Tucumcari in early 2021. He liked the “haunting quality of this place.” He was thankful “about all the things Tucumcari is missing,” such as floods, tornadoes or wildfires, as well as “excessive crime, mass shootings and political crazies.” There was no mention of loose dogs.

Quay County authorities identified one of the suspected dogs as a tan German shepherd-mix.

Tucumcari residents set up a memorial where Stanley Hartt was killed by a pack of dogs.

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 February 1, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Man Killed by Multiple Pit Bull-Mixes While Trying to Save Own Dog in Northwest Houston

A man was killed by multiple pit bull-mixes after trying to save his own dog in northwest Houston.

Man Killed by Dogs
Houston, TX - A 69-year old man was killed by multiple dogs in northwest Houston Wednesday.1 The attack occurred around 4:15 pm in the 5500 block of Sheraton Oaks Drive, which is between Antoine Drive and the West Oaks Bayou, according to police. Arriving officers found the man still being attacked by one of the dogs in his backyard. As officers approached him, one of the dogs charged an officer, who fired on the animal, striking it. The dogs then fled through a fence.

According to police, they believe the victim was inside his home, heard a commotion in his backyard and discovered that his own dog was being attacked by two or three dogs belonging to his neighbor that had escaped their fencing. He went outside to intervene and the neighbor’s dogs attacked, mauled and killed him. No breed information has been released by police. However, dog-on-dog “killing aggression” displayed just before a human fatal attack often involves pit bulls.

A neighbor described the victim’s dog as small. They also said the victim had visible physical disabilities. Police did not release the victim’s name.

On Thursday, a day after we reported this attack, BARC, the city of Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, identified the neighbor’s attacking dogs as Staffordshire terrier-mixes -- a name interchangeable with pit bull-mixes. Those dogs remain in custody at BARC. The victim’s dog that was initially attacked, sadly had to be euthanized due to the extent of its injuries. Investigators are still trying to determine how the neighbor’s dogs were able to escape their owner's property.

Harris County and Nearby

Last year, four people were killed by dogs inside or near Harris County, Texas. Drué Parker, 4-years old, was killed by four pit bulls in February while visiting his aunt’s home in Baytown. Nicolas Vasquez, 51-years old, died on June 19 after being attacked by three loose pit bulls in Huffman. Freddy Garcia, 71-years old, was killed by seven loose pit bull-mixes in July in Fresno (south of Houston). A 42-year old man was killed by multiple loose dogs in Channelview in August.

man killed by multiple dogs northwest houston

The map shows the boundaries of Harris County and five fatal dog attacks in the last year.

Join Texas Dog Bite Victims' Advocacy - Join our Texas email list to stay informed

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

1Police initially indicated the victim was in his 30s. It was later disclosed that he is 69-years old.

Posted on January 28, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Killed by Blue Nose Pit Bull After Dog Broke Free from Chain in Pitts, Georgia

A 66-year old woman was killed by a blue nose pit bull outside of Pitts, Georgia.

Woman Dies of Injuries
Pitts, GA – On Friday, the Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office announced two separate pit bull attacks. Both victims were female, and one attack resulted in death. Doris McBurse, 66-years old, was announced dead at the scene. “The victim and her husband were the owners of the pit bull that had broken free from its chain,” states a release from the sheriff’s office. The attack occurred at the victim’s home in the 2600 block of Pearce Road. The attacking dog was a “blue pit bull.”

WMAZ spoke to Wilcox County Coroner Janice Brown, who said the pit bull belonged to McBurse’s husband. She apparently escaped to her car for safety, but then died of her injuries, Brown said. They found her body inside the car. The couple had owned that blue pit bull -- there are several on the McBurse property -- for about three or four years. No one knows why the dog attacked her. The animal was surrendered to the Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office and euthanized.

Over a dozen photographs published on her husband’s Facebook page, Harris McBurse, shows that he had been breeding pit bulls for some time. The adult pit bulls, a red nose and blue nose, are seen staked out on chains. He advertised both colors for sale. “Top of the line puppies! Very beautiful and with plenty of fire,” he stated in a June 1, 2019 Facebook post. He also called the “Daddy” a “blue pit”, which could be “Flash the blue,” and the “mother” a “sandy red” pit bull.

Wilcox County Georgia Sheriff's Office
January 27, 2023

"On January 17, and again on January 24, 2023, there were two separate Pitbull dog attacks in Wilcox County. The first was in Pineview, Ga., resulting in a female victim being injured. The two dogs were quarantined for ten days, per state law, to assure rabies wasn't an issue. After the ten day waiting period, the Wilcox County Sheriff transported the animals to be humanely euthanized after the owner signed over custody.

The second attack occurred outside of Pitts, Ga., resulting in the death of a female victim. She was pronounced deceased on the scene of the attack. The victim and her husband were the owners of the Pitbull that had broken free from its chain. The dog was removed from the premises by the Sheriff and taken to be humanely euthanized by a veterinarian after the owner signed the necessary paperwork. There is an ongoing investigation of this case.

Dog owners, be aware, you are liable for what your animals do. You have to take every precaution to ensure your animals are secure on your property for safety of other people and yourself."

Two adult blue nose pit bulls seen staked out at the McBurse property near Pitts, Georgia.

A red nose pit bull seen staked out on the McBurse property, along with a litter of puppies.

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

Posted on January 24, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Boy Killed, Mother Injured by Four Dogs on the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho

On January 21, Kellan Boner was killed by four dogs on the Fort Hall Reservation.

Multi-Victim Dog Attack
Fort Hall, ID – A 7-year old boy died and his mother sustained serious injuries after being attacked by four dogs on the Fort Hall Reservation on January 21, 2023, according to tribal authorities. The multi-victim attack occurred just before 6:00 pm at a home on Sandy Road in Fort Hall. Both victims are non-tribal members and were transported to the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, according to a news release by Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. The boy did not survive his injuries.

The four dogs involved in the attack -- two rottweilers and two mixed-breeds – were shot and killed by tribal authorities. The dogs’ owners are also non-tribal members, who own the property where the fatal attack occurred. The “dog owners were cited for 15 violations of the Tribes’ Animal Ordinance including Vicious Animal Attack, Rabies Vaccination, and Over the Limit of Canine or Feline Pet,” states the release. Tribal authorities did not release the names of the two victims.

Official Media Release - January 21, 2023

Dog Attack results in death of young boy
Fort Hall - On January 21, 2023 at approximately 5:51 pm, Fort Hall Police were dispatched to a residence on Sandy Road in Fort Hall, Idaho. They were responding to a report of a young boy who had been attacked by multiple dogs and was unconscious.

Fort Hall Police report that the two non-tribal victims involved, a mother and son, were taken to the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho. The four dogs involved in the attack were two rottweilers and two mixed breeds -- all were put down by tribal authorities. Owners of the dogs, are non-tribal members who own the property where the attacks occurred.

Dog owners were cited for 15 violations of the Tribes’ Animal Ordinance including Vicious Animal Attack, Rabies Vaccination, and Over the Limit of Canine or Feline Pets.

The Fort Hall Business Council would like to offer their sincere condolences to the family of the young man who lost his life in this tragic incident. Vice Chair, Donna Thompson, of the Fort Hall Business Council (FHBC) stated “We would like to ask the public to respect the privacy of the family at this time.” The FHBC would also like to thank the responding emergency agencies and first responders for their quick response.

Fort Hall Criminal Investigators, the FBI, Fort Hall Police, and Fish & Game are conducting an ongoing investigation. This case will be submitted to the United States Attorney to review for potential federal charges.

The Business Council reminds residents that individuals dog owners must comply with the Animal Control Ordinance. Copies of the approved Animal Control Ordinance can be picked up by members of the public from the Administration Office located within the Tribal Business Center in Fort Hall. - Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

The Sho-Ban News identified the boy’s mother as Emily Islas, who suffered severe injuries “after she tried to fight off the dogs.” The four dogs belonged to Benjamin Dominick Wolfchild and Juliana Wolfchild who reside at the home, but were away at the time. Islas and her son lived in an RV behind the Wolfchild home. The child left the RV and after not returning for a few minutes, Islas found him lying face down with the dogs mauling him in the front area of the Wolfchild home.

A fundraiser was launched Monday supporting Islas, who remains in critical care. “All I knew at that time was that her beautiful little boy Kellan didn't make it and that Emily was fighting for her life,” states the fundraiser. Islas “is still in the ICU trying to recover from the damage.” She “sustained nerve damage and a ruptured artery in her right arm as well as damage to the back of her head, left arm and her back.” Islas’ daughter, “thankfully was not there" during the attack.

The little boy’s father, Jesse Boner, who has since remarried, released a statement on Facebook sharing the grief of his loss and his support of Emily. “Nobody should ever have to outlive their children or have them taken from us in such a violent way,” Boner said. “Emily is a fighter, always has been, and a damn strong woman. Once again she’s had to prove that in doing all she could to protect our son by taking the brunt of the attacks. She needs support now more than ever.”

"Nobody should ever have to outlive their children or have them taken from us in such a violent way, but life decided otherwise and we’ve had to deal with a parent’s worse nightmare. Emily is a fighter, always has been, and a damn strong woman. Once again she’s had to prove that in doing all she could to protect our son by taking the brunt of the attacks. She needs support now more than ever because she’s going to have a long road to recovery as she recuperates in the ICU from her near fatal wounds. She was my best friend long before we got married. We learned to become friends again after our divorce. She will continue to have my support through this tragedy as we all grieve his loss together. I’m having a really hard time typing all of this as it feels like an elephant is sitting on chest and my heart is beating like a drum at a concert. Thank you all so much for the outpouring of support we’ve all been given." – Jesse Boner

Fatal Attacks on Reservations

Last year, at least four people, all tribal members, were killed by dogs on reservations. An unidentified person was killed by a pack on dogs on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona; Shawna Jo Bell, 42, was killed by multiple dogs on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming; Francis Cavanaugh, 6, was killed by a single dog on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota and Chaille Morgan, 27, was killed by a pack of dogs on the Meskwaki Settlement in Iowa.