Posted on June 24, 2021 by Colleen Lynn

2021 Dog Bite Fatality: Man Found Injured, Bloody and Unresponsive After Pit Bull Mauling Near Brooklyn

Trailers seen in the area of The Hole, where a man was mauled by two family pit bulls.

Man Found Dead
Brooklyn, NY - A 39-year old man, who suffered from cerebral palsy, was found dead with bite injuries all over his body in his trailer home on Dumont Avenue near Ruby Street in The Hole, a low-lying neighborhood on the border of Brooklyn and Queens. Wikipedia describes the small area as 30 feet lower than the surrounding area, is run down and suffers from frequent flooding. The bite injuries were inflicted by at least two family pit bulls, according to police and a neighbor.

The New York Post reports that his ears were "ripped off," a common pit bull mauling injury, and that he had suffered lacerations and puncture wounds. Police tranquilized the two pit bulls and transferred them to Animal Care and Control, according to neighbor Stephen Newell, who spoke to The Post. The victim, whose name has not been released by police, had been living in the trailer for four years with a couple, Cindy and Angel, who took care of him, Newell told The Post.

The trio had three pit bulls under the age of 5 -- Max, Ezra and America. Ezra was locked away in a backroom at the time and did not appear to be involved, Newell said. Angel and Cindy were outside for a brief time when the man was mauled. When Cindy went back inside, "it was already over with," Newell said. "Angel called 911 and they were telling him what to do to revive him," Newell said. Angel even tried to stop the bleeding. Both are very upset right now, Newell said.

The medical examiner's officer will determine the cause of death. The man may have died of natural causes before the mauling, police said. Several years ago, one coroner agency explained to us in a FOIA response that an 82-year old woman who was bitten by two family pit bulls died of natural causes and that the bites were "perimortem in nature," an injury that occurs at or around the time of death. Certainly, we have seen post-mortem mauling cases in the past as well.

Welcome To The Hole, John Gotti's Body-Dumping Ground. A video by Jessica Leibowitz. Produced by Jessica Leibowitz and Lauren Evans. Gothamist Films. Learn more »

Posted on June 21, 2021 by Colleen Lynn

2021 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Dog Sitting Pit Bulls Found Dead in Osage County; Dog Attack Confirmed by Coroner

Rebecca McCurdy, 28-years old, was attacked and killed by two pit bulls in Osage County.

Cause of Death
UPDATE 06/26/21: On Friday, investigator Rex Wikel released more information about the fatal pit bull mauling of 28-year old Rebecca McCurdy. She had been house sitting a home with multiple pit bulls when she was discovered dead by deputies. The state medical examiner also released a preliminary report confirming that she died as a result of a dog attack. There were no security cameras in the home so the time of the attack and circumstances are unknown, Wikel said.

Regarding rumors on social media, Wikel said they found no evidence the dogs were trained to fight or that there had been previous acts of aggression. "I've seen some of the comments that they are fighting dogs and so on and so forth," Wikel said. "There is no reports or instance so far that shows any other incident other than this one involving these dogs or this owner." The owner has agreed to sign over the dogs to be destroyed. At least two pit bulls were involved in the attack.

06/21/21: Woman Found Dead Near Skiatook
Osage County, OK - On June 19, a woman was found dead after a suspected dog attack. Deputies were dispatched to a home near Skiatook to carry out a welfare check on 28-year old Rebecca McCurdy. She had reportedly been house sitting and watching the homeowner's dogs. When deputies arrived, they found McCurdy deceased in the garage. Evidence observed at the scene "indicates Rebecca was the victim of a dog attack," the sheriff's office said in a release.

"The homeowner claimed he raised pit bull dogs for hobby/sale," the Sheriff's Office said. "There were several pit bull dogs caged in the garage. One of the dog cages was toppled over and there were many signs of a dog attack visible," the release said. Osage County Sheriff's Office investigators are waiting on results from the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office. The pit bulls suspected in the attack were taken into custody, reports the Pawhuska Journal-Capital.

Dog Sitting Deaths

Earlier this year in North Carolina, a 7-year old girl was killed and her mother was critically injured while caring for their neighbor's two rescue pit bulls. Since the attack, the dogs' owners, Joseph and Amanda White, continue to try to get their dogs returned to them. In 2019, in Michigan, a pit bull that a mother had agreed to dog sit at her home, suddenly "detonated" like a bomb, killing her 4-year old son. The mother had only been dog sitting the pit bull, "Bolo," for less than one day.

Uncommon Age Group

Only 21 individuals, ages 19 to 29, were killed by dogs between 2005 and 2020. Pit bulls were responsible for 90% (19 of 21) of these deaths. The majority of cases, 58%, involved two or more pit bulls attacking. Though this age group only makes up about 4% of dog bite fatalities recorded during the 16-year period, pit bulls are disproportionately involved in them. A rottweiler and a Dogo argentino carried out the other two fatal attacks. In both cases, a single dog killed its owner.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Oklahoma 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 June 14, 2021 by Colleen Lynn

2021 Dog Bite Fatality: Boy, 7, Killed by Dogs in Marion County, South Carolina

Shamar Jackson, 7-years old, was killed by a pack of loose dogs in Marion County.

Dog Owner Charged
UPDATE 06/29/21: On Monday, a man was charged with felony manslaughter in connection to the dog mauling death of a 7-year old boy on June 13. Lorenzo Cardenas, 41, of Marion, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and owning a dangerous animal that attacks and injures a human. Shamar Jackson was attacked and killed by up to six dogs belonging to Cardenas as he tried to escape them. Shamar's two older brothers, who were with him at the time, were able to escape.

One day after the attack, Marion Animal Control took six dogs into custody from Cardenas' home. One of these dogs has since managed to escape the shelter. It is unknown if it will be located by authorities. Cardenas was booked at the Marion County Detention Center. A bond hearing is scheduled for Wednesday and requires an interpreter, as Cardenas said he does not understand English well. Cardenas faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

06/14/21: Family Helped by Community
A funeral for Shamar Jackson was held on June 24. The funeral was paid for by a fund set up by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, as well as contributions from NFL player Darius Leonard and an anonymous donor. The Reverend Raymond Johnson, who was affected by the tragedy, raised money for the family to send them on vacation. "We’re going to send this family and their children and all the other people who were with them that night to Walt Disneyland," Johnson told WBTW.

Johnson said the family will travel in a fully-stocked motorhome. They will also attend a Clemson game and a Carolina Panthers game, reports WBTW. The boy's father, Carnell Jackson, was thankful for everything the community had done. "I did not know that when I went to work that day, I would come home and my son would be gone," he said. Carnell also wants justice for his son. "Whoever lives in that house should be charged," he said. "I will not stop until they get charged."

On June 13, Carnell's youngest son was mauled to death by one or more loose dogs. Shamar and his two older brothers had gone outside to search for their pet chihuahua, named Remi, when five dogs confronted them. One of his brothers escaped by jumping a fence. Shamar climbed the fence too, but fell backward. One of the dogs "just dragged him back. And ripped all of his clothes off of his body. You know, mauled him," Carnell said. Police continue to investigate his death.

Reverend Johnson is also harnessing his team of attorneys to try to get the family compensated. All of this support for Carnell's family -- the Marion County Sheriff's Office setting up the funeral fund, an NFL player and private donors stepping in, the Reverend Johnson sending the family on vacation, as well as providing the family legal assistance -- truly is miraculous. Carnell said his son's favorite scripture was Psalm 23. "He lives by that scripture, and I teach in it," Carnell said.

06/14/21: Dogs Kill 7-Year Old Boy
Marion County, SC - A 7-year old boy is dead after being attacked by dogs. The attack occurred at the intersection of Wilbur and Cleo Roads just after 10:00 pm Sunday. The child's father, Carnell Jackson, had prayed that his son Shamar Jackson would live. “I was just like, 'Lord just let him live, breathe into his lungs, but he had lost a lot of blood," Carnell said. Shamar and his brother had gone out to find their chihuahua, named Remi, when they were confronted by five dogs.

Shamar's older brother, Aiden, was able to escape by jumping over a fence, Carnell said. Shamar, being smaller, had tried to climb the fence, but fell backwards. "One of the dogs came down here and ran to that side and just dragged him back. And ripped all of his clothes off of his body. You know, mauled him," Carnell said. WBTW camera crews captured police and animal control at the scene Monday afternoon, where they seized all of the dogs from a property on Cleo Road.

Police issued a release earlier today: "The Marion County Sheriff's Office along with the coroner and animal control are investigating the death of a 7 year old boy in the Wilbur Road area of Marion last night. The SLED crime scene unit was called in to assist. It appears the small child was mauled by dog(s) while walking in his neighborhood with his brother who was able to escape. The investigation continues and we are actively seeking the dogs and their possible owner."

Evening Updates

The boy's heartbroken father appeared in several evening segments, including WBFM. Neighbors told media outlets the dogs suspected in the attack had gotten out multiple times in the past and have intimidated neighbors in their yard. Carnell said there are holes in the owner's fence-line and that on one side, there are no signs. "How you going to warn somebody?" he asked. "If you know the dog bite and you got children out here, keep the dogs up or get rid of them,” Carnell said.

The child's uncle, Anthony Parsley, also spoke to media outlets. "I’m hurt. I want to cry but I can’t cry anymore," he said. Parsley said the owners of the dogs had not even apologized or offered condolences to the family. Earlier reports called all five dogs mixed-breed adult dogs, though a younger dog is also seen in the footage. It appears authorities may be obtaining DNA samples from the dogs. However, the dogs were not seized until many hours after the fatal attack.

Two brown dogs are seen in the WYFF footage, where authorities are seizing the animals.

Photos published at the boy's funeral showed the Jackson family had a history of chaining pit bulls on their property with heavy logging chains. But those weren't the dogs that killed him.

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Colleen Lynn

2021 Dog Bite Fatality: Child Dies After Falling from Window, Mauled by Pit Bulls, in Elizabeth, New Jersey

A 3-year old boy is dead after falling from a window and being mauled by pit bulls.

Joint News Release
Elizabeth, NJ - On June 10, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo, Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca and Police Director Earl Graves issued a joint announcement about the death of a young child. Authorities are investigating the circumstances behind an incident where a 3-year old child fell from a rear window on the second story of a home and was subsequently attacked by dogs belonging to the child's family in the fenced-in backyard of the family's home.

Elizabeth police officers were dispatched to a multi-family home in the 400 block of South 5th Street shortly after 5:25 pm Wednesday. They discovered the 3-year old child had sustained serious injuries. The child was transported to Trinitas Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just after 6:30 pm. A local animal control organization responded to the scene and secured the dogs, described as two pit bulls. The dogs are being held in quarantine.

RLS Media spoke to residents in the neighborhood. According to a preliminary investigation, the child fell 15 feet from the back window of a two-story home, where he sustained a neck injury. While on the ground, residents told RLS Media that two aggressive pit bulls began to tear at several parts of the boy's body, including his lower extremities. Police secured the scene and tried to save the boy before he was rushed to Trinitas Hospital, where he died shortly thereafter.

Earlier this year, a 3-year old boy and his mother were attacked by two roaming pit bulls in Carteret. The boy suffered "total evisceration" injuries. He was airlifted to a trauma center, where he later died. The mother was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Arriving police officers shot and killed both dogs. The dogs had escaped their home on Birch Street, one street over. Relatives said the dogs "dug their way" into the backyard of the child's home. No charges were ever filed.

In 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky, a 3-year old boy climbed out of a rear window of his home during the overnight hours and was mauled to death by his family's two rottweilers. Similar cases have occurred over the years, typically involving pit bulls and rottweilers and young male children. Some cases result in criminal charges, such as after the death of 2-year old Samuel Zamudio in 2013, and other cases do not. As of Thursday, no charges have been filed in the Elizabeth case.

WABC reports that neighbors say the canines were known to be vicious and the yard where the mauling happened is "full of feces, motorcycles and debris." Neighbor Maria Rocha said she witnessed the mother trying to pull the dogs off the child. "I didn't sleep all night," Rocha said. "My heart is broken." Rocha is also horrified the boy suffered an agonizing death. "I just hope that he didn't suffer, you know what I mean?" Rocha said. "I hope he didn't suffer, that it was quick."

NBC New York captured the rear window on the second story of the child's home.

WABC-TV captured footage of the second-story window with with a hole torn in the screen.

The boy fell from a second-story window into a cluttered backyard with two family pit bulls.

Less than two months before her child fell out of a window and was mauled by her own vicious pit bulls, this young mother had a foreshadowing…ALERT to social services in New Jersey.

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