Posted on October 16, 2020 by Colleen Lynn

2020 Dog Bite Fatality: Infant Dies After Dog Attack in Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii

A infant died Wednesday after being mauled by a dog in a Schofield Barracks residence.

Infant Killed by Dog
Honolulu, HI - An infant died after being mauled by a dog in a Schofield Barracks residence. The infant was in a car seat when the attack occurred. Emergency personnel responded to a 911 call Wednesday evening about a child with serious injuries that had been bitten by a dog inside a home at Schofield, the Army said in an email to the Star-Advertiser. "Our hearts go out to the family during this difficult time," said Col. Dan Misigoy, commander, U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii.

The type of dog involved was not released. The Honolulu Police Department is leading the investigation, reports the Star-Advertiser. Police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said this "tragic incident" has been classified as an "unattended death." Meaning, that a person was found dead and there were no witnesses. In some cases, the body is not found for days or weeks. All unattended deaths have to be investigated to determine if any criminal act was involved.

Hawaii News Now reports the infant was a 4-month old girl. The attack happened at her home on Hall Street just before 5:00 pm. The child suffered head injuries and was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. No other information was released. Dog bite fatalities on military installations typically have very few details. Since 2009, the Army has banned multiple breeds from privatized housing, including: pit bulls, rottweilers and several others.

Very likely due to each military branch adopting their own uniform breed-specific policies a decade ago, we have not reported a dog mauling death in military housing since 2012. That year, a 6-year old boy was killed by a PTSD "service dog" just outside of Fort Campbell. In 2010, a 2-year old boy was killed by a dog in Tierrasanta, a military housing area within the city of San Diego. His mother was later convicted of child endangerment. Both deaths involved German shepherds.

Multiple children have been killed by dogs while strapped into a child safety seat indoors. Most recently in 2019, when a babysitter left the baby in a car seat while she went to clear room in her car for the child. When she returned, her pit bull-mix had attacked the baby. In 2018, a babysitter placed an infant, who was in foster care, on a couch still in the car seat. When the family dog got "agitated" in its crate, the babysitter let the dog out. The dog immediately attacked the infant.

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 October 13, 2020 by Colleen Lynn

2020 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Dies While Hospitalized After Pit Bulls Attack Three Family Members; No Media Reports

Coco, 86-years old, died after a rampage attack carried out by two family pit bulls.

Corresponding Post
Oviedo, FL - On the morning of May 22, a Seminole County Sheriff deputy responded to a home in the 4600 block of Tiffany Woods Circle. Upon arrival, the deputy was met by individuals "yelling and screaming saying that the two dogs had gone crazy" and that "multiple people had been bitten," according to the sheriff's report. Three family members were transported to a hospital with severe dog bite injuries. The elderly family member died while still hospitalized on June 20.

Despite the dramatic nature of this multi-victim family pit bull attack, there were no media reports. We learned of it after requesting public records.

The deputy observed "an elderly female laying on her side on a futon," states the report. She was surrounded by a large amount of blood. "Her right arm was obviously broken with the bone sticking out of the skin near the wrist." There was a large amount of blood around her head area due to a facial bite, according to the report. This victim was 86-year old Modesta Socorro Portes Morilla, affectionately known by her family as "Coco," and the dog owner's grandmother.

The deputy then located another victim, the mother of the dogs' owner, Yessenia. The woman had a "curtain wrapped around her lower right arm" and blood on her feet, states the sheriff's report. She told the deputy the dogs had "bitten her repeatedly." She said for an "unknown reason" the two dogs attacked her mother. Both she and her husband (Nelson Sr.) were outside when she heard her mother screaming. When the couple tried to protect her, the dogs attacked them.

"Yesterday in tragic accident my dad Nelson, my mom Yessenia, and my grandma, Coco, were all viciously attacked by our two pit bull dogs, who they raise since there since little puppies so this was very unexpected. They have all suffered severe injuries from these painful bites, my dad losing part of his right ear. All three are currently hospitalized and unfortunately Coco is in intensive care, intubated and awaiting surgery to repair a broken wrist. My dad and mom are caregivers for Coco who suffers from Alzheimer’s, and are now unable to care for her, as they themselves need to recover from the sustained injuries to their arms. My dad will be not be able to return to work for a while so we ask that you please help with whatever you can assist with their medical bills. Every little bit helps. We would also appreciate much needed prayers. Thank you so much. The link to the Go-Fund me account will be in my bio." [sic] - Nelson Caamano Jr., May 24, 2020.

The owner of the dogs (Nelson Jr.) told the deputy that he and his brother had been asleep in their bedrooms when they heard their grandmother screaming. "Nelson reported that he used a frying pan on the dogs to try to get them to stop attacking," states the report. His father also received multiple bites while he attempted to save his grandmother. Nelson Jr.'s parents and Coco were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center "due to the trauma of the injuries," states the report.

Seminole County Animal Services took both dogs into custody, states the report. We also received the "Event Report" from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, which is a written log file as the event unfolds. At 7:52 am, a 911 caller states, dog is "killing everyone." Two minutes later, a caller states, "There is blood everywhere" and dogs "attacking grandma" and "dog attacking husband" and "pit bull." The family was able to secure the dogs in the bathroom before responders arrived.

Rampage Attack

What happened in the Caamano home that day is characterized as a "rampage attack," when a pit bull attacks and seriously injures three or more people. This attack involved a pair of pit bulls, unlike the single male pit bull that attacked four family members, killing one, back in February. "The initial investigation indicates the dog, which was owned by the victims, was unprovoked and attacked for an unknown reason," stated a news release by the Plainfield Police Department.

The victim that died in Plainfield was the dog's owner, a 25-year old male. Rampage attacks carried out by pit bulls are not limited to the elderly.

The rampage attack at the Caamano home was described similarly. Yessenia told the deputy the pit bulls attacked her mother for an "unknown reason." It took two adults fighting off the dogs and a third adult, the dogs' owner, using a frying pan on the dogs to stop the violent attack. According to photos located on the family's Facebook pages, one of the pit bulls, named "Tony," is about 5-years old. It is unknown how old the second pit bull was or how long it had been with the family.

Coco died of "complications of multiple dog bites," according to the autopsy report. She suffered "multiple dog bites to face and neck," multiple bites to her arm with an open fracture to her right wrist, "dog bites to right leg" that developed into sepsis with complications, multiple contusions and abrasions. Dementia and chronic obstructing pulmonary disease were contributing factors in her death, states the medical examiner's report. The manner of death was ruled an accident.

The Dogs' Owner

What is striking is how open this 23-year old owner was after this rampage attack. We did not discover his post until after obtaining records from the District Nine Medical Examiner's Office. Nelson Jr., made an honest plea to help his parents and grandmother who had been severely injured by the family's two pit bulls. Nelson Jr., his parents, siblings and Coco all lived at the home with the dogs. The family raised $7,745 in a fundraiser after the attack that is no longer active.

What this family in Oviedo experienced is horrific. According to Nelson Sr., his wife had to be readmitted to the hospital due to "serious infections." One commenter stated the following in Spanish on his page (that we can only translate with Google): "Nelson, I feel in my soul what happened, to you, your wife and mother-in-law … I already contributed something to your portal. Let's see if they can count as a step, so that other people who have these dogs are more aware."

Awareness Indeed

Multiple female senior citizens were killed by pit bulls belonging to their children this year, including 76-year old Karen Wilkerson, killed by her daughter's two pit bulls in Oklahoma; 84-year old Carolyn Varanese, killed by her son's adopted pit bull in Florida; 72-year old Barbara Cook, killed by her daughter's two pit bulls in Louisiana; 70-year old Katie Amos, killed by her son's pit bulls in Illinois; and 64-year old Geraldine Hamlin, killed by her son's two pit bulls in Louisiana.

Multiple male citizens, 60-years and older, were killed by pit bulls belonging to younger relatives as well, including 61-year old Stephen Pemberton Sr., killed by his stepson's two pit bulls in Illinois and 76-year old Harvey Harmon Jr., killed by four dogs, including two pit bulls belonging to his nephew in Mississippi. At least two of these victims, Coco and Varanese, suffered health problems that required caregivers. These ages and medical conditions are highly incompatible with pit bulls.

Unreported Fatalities

There have been at least five unreported dog bite fatalities during this Covid-19 year, 14% of the total recorded deaths so far (5 of 37). Four deaths involved pit bulls and one death involved a bull terrier. Not all deaths have a dedicated blog post either, like this case we added to the 2020 Summary page on October 10. That death involved a spayed family pit bull killing an infant. Again, no media reports. It is also disconcerting when a full-fledged rampage attack goes unreported.

We had to contact three different agencies in Florida to obtain information for this report. Thus far, we have nine large records requests still outstanding -- some pertain to multiple years. We are sending more next week too. Six record requests have been completed since August. One uncovered another death in 2019, also inflicted by a family pit bull. With all of the different state privacy laws, it is unknown how many of our outstanding requests will actually be fulfilled.

Summary

The family pit bull rampage attack in Oviedo required three ambulances. The Event Report stated a fourth victim was transported to the hospital too. While looking on Broadcastify.com for the audio dispatch log files for the responding fire department, we noticed that all files correlating to the time of this rampage attack were missing -- a coincidence? Irregardless, emergency responders should develop a new protocol for multi-victim rampage attacks. A "dog bite" protocol does not suffice.

Rampage attack, pit bull owner confesses

After a family pit bull attack hospitalized three family members, a fundraiser was created.

One pit bull belonging to the family, a male named "Tony." No other dog photos were located.

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

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Colleen Lynn

2020 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bull Attacks Two Adults, Killing One, at Mobile Home Park in Moses Lake, Washington

Zachary Willis, 27-years old, was killed in a violent pit bull mauling in Moses Lake, WA.

Died of Multiple Dog Bites
UPDATE 10/14/20: "Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison today ruled the cause of death of Zachary Willis of Moses Lake is multiple dog bites," the Grant County Sheriff's Office (GCSO) said in a statement posted to their Facebook page Wednesday. "The manner of death is accidental. The autopsy was completed Tuesday. No other injuries were discovered, said Coroner Morrison." GCSO added that, "Willis died Thursday after a dog attack inside his home on Airway Drive."

GCSO also replied to commenters on the post. In response to, "What caused the dog to attack," GCSO stated, "The fact is we may never fully know what caused the dog to attack." In response to, "So no stab wounds?" GCSO stated, "No other injuries were discovered, said Coroner Morrison." When asked if the fatally attacking pit bull would be rehomed, GCSO stated, "The dog will be humanely euthanized … because it killed a human and severely injured another."

In response to why the dog received veterinary care instead of being immediately euthanized after the attack, GCSO stated, "The dog was placed on the 10 day hold pending investigation of Willis's death and the coroner's report. The dog was treated for his injuries so he would not suffer. As far as costs, when investigating a death of a human, we accept and budget for costs associated with the investigations." Thus, taxpayers paid these veterinary costs, not the owner of the dog.

KXLY reports that Zachary Willis was killed by his own dog. It was previously reported that the female in the household owned the pit bull. Kyle Foreman with the GCSO told KXLY the female victim was hospitalized until this past weekend. Her latest medical condition is unknown. Foreman also stated that an autopsy by the coroner confirmed Willis did not suffer any stab wounds, only dog bites. No other information was given about the dog, such as if it was a "rescue" pit bull.

10/12/20: Conspiracy Theories
No new information has been released by the Grant County Sheriff's Office after a man was killed and a woman was severely injured by a family pit bull on Thursday. It is only known that an autopsy is being scheduled. The coroner's office identified the man as 27-year old Zachary Willis. That has not stopped conspiracy theories from circulating on social media, such as false claims his death was a "murder" or that his death was related to a domestic violence "stabbing" incident.

What is the definition of domestic violence? "Violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner." This case does involve "violent or aggressive behavior within the home," but it was carried out by a pit bull (AKA "domestic pit bull violence"). Why do some fatal pit bull maulings ignite conspiracy theories and others do not? Rumor mongering usually emerges after a pit bull advocate has been killed by his or her dog.

That is the case in Willis' death as well. A 2015 post shows him trying to find a home for pit bull that he saved "from a shotgun death" after the dog killed 12-15 chickens. "Yes I saved one I'll save many more," he states. He also believed the false myth, "It's all how you raise 'em." Willis wrote: "A dog is only as his owner raises him treat and raise a good dog he will be a good dog, teach him different and he becomes a bad dog this is why so many people misinterpret this breed."

Annually, domestic pit bull violence accounts for about 15 or so deaths. Over the last 15 years, over half of all fatal pit bull maulings (53%) are attacks inside the home, when the dog kills its owner or other household member, typically the owner's child, parent or grandparent. During this same period, only 17 people between the ages of 20-28, were killed by dogs. This rare age group only accounts for 3% of all dog bite fatalities. Pit bulls inflicted 88% of these deaths (15 of 17).

A 2015 post shows that Zachary Willis believed the false myth, "It's all how you raise 'em."

10/08/20: Multi-Victim Pit Bull Attack
Moses Lake, WA - A man is dead and a woman is severely injured after being attacked by their own dog. Earlier today, Kyle Foreman of the Grants County Sheriff's Office gave a quick news conference on Facebook Live. The attack occurred at about 11:20 am at a home in the Harvest Manor Mobile Home Park at 4815 Airway Drive Northeast. Sheriff's deputies, Moses Lake Police, firefighters and paramedics responded. The woman was transported to Samaritan Hospital.

Several hours later, Foreman posted an update video. "The details of what caused the dog to get worked up are still under investigation," he said. Detectives still need to interview the female victim. Foreman also stated that the male victim had died of his injuries from the dog attack. The dog, a pit bull or pit bull-mix, was being treated at a veterinary clinic for the injuries the dog sustained in the attack. The male victim actually died at the scene -- he could not be resuscitated.

On Friday, Coroner Craig Morrison identified the victim as 27-year-old Zachary S. Willis of Moses Lake. An autopsy is being scheduled.

The dog lived at the home with the victims, according to Foreman. The violent attack happened inside the couple's home. Footage from KREM shows blood on the outside railing of the home. That occurred when the woman was moved outside the home by emergency responders to be treated, reports KREM. The woman apparently was the owner of the dog. She is also the person who called 911. The name of the male victim is being withheld until next of kin can be notified.

Multi-Victim Attacks

There have been multiple multi-victim attacks inflicted by family pit bulls this year during a fatal attack. Most recently, Karen Wilkerson, 76, was killed by one of her daughter's two pit bulls. The two daughters that came to her aid were seriously injured and transported to a hospital. Two weeks earlier, Carolyn Varanese was killed by a recently adopted pit bull. Her son, Joseph Varanese, who tried to stop the attack, was seriously injured and rushed to a local hospital.

In February, a male family pit bull embarked on a "rampage attack," attacking four family members, killing one. Four ambulances were called the scene. 25-year old Devin White, who owned the dog, died two days later while hospitalized as a result of the injuries he sustained. In that case, police determined the dog was "unprovoked and attacked for an unknown reason." The Grants County Sheriff's Office detectives will likely reach a similar conclusion in this case.

Blood seen on a Moses Lake home after a family pit bull attacked two people, killing one.

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

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Colleen Lynn

2020 Dog Bite Fatality: 32-Year Old Woman Mauled to Death by Dogs in Laurens County, South Carolina

Jacqueline Robinson, 32-years old, died after being attacked by dogs in Laurens County.

Dog Owner Arrested
UPDATE 10/02/20: Just after we listened to the long telephone interview with the victim's father, John Robinson, we learned that an arrest has been made. "They tore her up. They tore her all to pieces," Robinson said during the interview. "I want justice for Jacqueline." Today, Jeffrey Sullivan, the alleged owner of the dogs involved in the death of 32-year old Jacqueline Robinson, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and three counts of possession of a dangerous animal.

"This is such a tragic, senseless death," Laurens County Sheriff Don Reynolds stated. "My thoughts and prayers go to Ms. Robinson’s family. I pray that justice is served and that her family feels some peace knowing that this individual believed to be responsible is being held accountable for his reckless actions." After her death, multiple dogs were removed from the property. Police officials have not released the breed of dog involved, but Robinson stated the dogs are pit bulls.

Reporter: Tell me a little bit about your daughter.

John Robinson: First of all, to me, she is as beautiful as an angel. She never wants to see anybody go hungry. If she met you, made friends with you, she's got a lot of people, you are automatically her family. You know, she made friends real easy. She treated everybody with respect. Even when I would talk to her she would say yes or no sir. She just, I pray...she was just a beautiful baby girl. She would never want to hurt anyone or see anyone hurt or go without. She would welcome you into her home. And you know, she just lived life with a beautiful smile. She was happy in any way she could. She'd give you her shirt off her back. You know. She was a good mother. She loved her kids. She'd go to the last mile for her kids. She just was a great kid when she was young. And growing up, she loved to ride the horses. She loved animals. And she was a dog groomer.

You know, I just can't believe that she had to suffer a death like this. It is horrible. This is tragic. She did not deserve it. The owners of these dogs need to pay in more ways than one. Because my baby's death. You're responsible for your pets. I don't know how it is...well I talked to a deputy. He told me the laws are different in South Carolina. You let pit bulls run loose?

In the state of Kentucky, a dog, a pit bull is almost extinct -- they don't like them here. But you have to have a vicious dog. A killer is what they are. On a chain and in a fenced in yard. These dogs were running loose. He got a hold of my baby. Three of them and killed my baby. Destroyed my baby. Destroyed my life. Destroyed her mother's life. This is Mary Ann Robinson. Two beautiful kids. Cameron Blake Gamble…Cameron is 15. Destiny Nicole Gamble. She's 11 and will be 12 on October 17. And they have to bury their mother for absolutely no reason. She just had a birthday. We celebrated her birthday -- 32 years old. Too young. Too young. Her life has been snatched away. She's supposed to bury me, not me burying my daughter.

I want the laws changed. I will go to my last breath. Talk to a senator or whoever I have to, to get those laws changed, and I want it named after my daughter, called Jacqueline's Law. I'm going to do everything possible to make sure that my daughter's death doesn't go in vain. I want something done in South Carolina about these dogs. I want charges on these people that own these dogs. They should already been in jail. They would have been in jail in the state of Kentucky. They should already be locked up.

My beautiful little angel. She's gone. I've got to bury her. I will do everything in my power for my baby. She's in heaven looking down on me. I can't let her death go without justice.

Reporter: No charges have been filed at all at this point?

John Robinson: Not to my knowledge. I talked to the deputies, I don't know how many times yesterday, and they said it's an ongoing investigation. They got to meet something, like criteria or elements. You know, it doesn't make sense. I mean, it's not like these dogs attacked another dog and killed it. Or a cat and killed it. These dogs killed a human being. They killed my baby girl -- killed her. These people ought to be charged with murder because they are responsible for their dogs. No charges have been brought. And I don't understand why. Nobody has been punished for this. It is my understanding that they have the dogs that killed her in quarantine…they are supposed to swab them and...you know. But no. Nobody has been arrested. Nobody has been made responsible for these dogs and for the death of my baby girl.

Reporter: My thoughts and prayers. I'm so sorry...

John Robinson: We're lost. I can't wrap my arms around it. Mary Ann, her mother, she's just 12 pieces…Out of her mind, like me. I can't, I can't comprehend this. This is wrong. It's tragic. She should never had to go through the pain of a pit bull -- or any dog -- attacking her and ripping her throat. I mean they tore her up. Tore her all to pieces. Just think of the pain my daughter went through. And nobody has been made to pay for this? This is wrong! This is wrong! I want justice for Jacqueline Nicole Robinson. My beautiful daughter. My baby girl. I want justice. I will not stop until I get justice. Somebody is going to pay. - John Robinson

We will address a few points the grieving father made. Since 2005, only 20% of fatal dog attacks have resulted in criminal charges. That this same attack would quickly result in criminal charges in Kentucky is untrue. There are jurisdictions in Kentucky with breed-specific laws that can file charges more easily because prosecutors do not have to prove the owner had "knowledge" of the dog's vicious propensities (the ordinance already declares pit bulls dangerous or vicious).

The definition of a fatal pit bull mauling is always an extremely violent attack. Ripping out the victim's throat, severing the carotid artery, breaking the cervical spine, tearing off the full scalp and ears, and tearing out "chunks of flesh" -- wounds with massive soft tissue loss -- are injuries common in fatal pit bull attacks. These horrendous injuries, compared to shark attack injuries in medical journals, are even more horrific when there is more than one pit bull involved.

Only three states have felony dog attack statutes that are in consistent use: California, Michigan and Texas. Otherwise, to the horror of this grieving father, these barbaric maulings on public streets and within residential alleyways by recognized dangerous dog breeds continue to be tolerated by state policymakers. They cannot even be bothered to enact a felony dog attack statute. In South Carolina, involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of up to five years.

Finally, during 2019 and 2020 a modest attempt was made in the South Carolina legislature to reign in the pit bull problem. House Bill 3709 essentially sought to have all pit bulls sterilized to bring their population numbers down and microchipped for identification purposes. All persons breeding pit bulls would be required to register and microchip their dogs. The bill never made it out of the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.

"Whereas, the pit bull dog is the most desired breed for dogfighting and is dying at a higher rate in local animal shelters than any other breed of dog in South Carolina; and

Whereas, fertile dogs are more likely to be territorial and therefore more likely to bite. Most dog bite fatalities are committed by dogs that were not altered; and

Whereas, requiring registration to own a fertile pit bull dog would provide a safety component for the public and the dog." - H 3709, 123rd Session, 2019-2020

09/30/20: Woman Killed by Dogs
Gray Court, SC - A 32-year old woman was found dead in a yard on Allegra Lane Tuesday morning, according to the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office. A home healthcare worker discovered her body. The Laurens County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy Wednesday morning. Chief Deputy Coroner Patti Canupp identified the woman killed as Jacqueline Nicole Robinson, 32. Canupp said the autopsy showed that her cause of death was due to being "mauled by dogs."

Deputies responded to the home about 10:50 am Tuesday. Laurens County Animal Control removed several dogs from the scene. Robinson had been breeding pit bulls at her home for several years (litters in 2019 and 2018), according to her Facebook page. Photos show a "Momma" and "Daddy" pit bull -- both were staked out in the yard. Multiple adult, adolescent and pit bull puppies appear in her photos. Other photos indicate the victim was a dog groomer.

Police have not confirmed the breed of dog involved. Last October, we issued trends in fatal pit bull mauling victims. Between 2010 and 2018, women 30-years and older had risen to the most frequent victim of fatal pit bull maulings. One can see this rise more clearly when comparing three recent periods. In the 5-year period of 2005-2009, women 30 and older accounted for 19% of people killed by pit bulls. That rose to 38% during the 4-year period of 2015-2018, a 100% rise.