Davina Corbin, 56, was killed by a large dog pack on Blackhawk Trail in Feather Falls, Butte County.
Adult Dogs Euthanized
UPDATE 08/16/24: KCRA reports that all seven of the adult great danes connected to the fatal mauling of Davina Corbin will be euthanized. According to Butte County Public Health, the 18 puppies will be eligible for adoption. Thus, it appears that DNA testing to determine which dog, or dogs, attacked Corbin is not being carried out. All of the adult dogs are simply being euthanized; the age of the puppies was not released. The investigation into her death has not led to any criminal charges.
Corbin was found dead on Blackhawk Trail at about 2:00 am on August 8. It's unknown when the dogs attacked. Neighbors said she did not own a car. They often saw her walking near Craig Access Road. Despite neighbor Max Heckler saying the dog pack had threatened him in the past, officials denied it. "At no point were these dogs ever considered a threat to humans or reported for being aggressive before the tragic event happened," said Lisa Almaguer with Butte County Public Health.
Butte County Animal Control said they received two calls about the dogs being loose, along with welfare concerns. There were "no reports of aggression." Yet, dog packs are routinely dangerous -- especially ones comprised of 25 great danes roaming at large -- and everyone in the areas of animal control, public health and policing knows this. The public knows this too, which is why Heckler got back in his car. Dogs "running at large" prohibitions are also meant to stop dog packs from forming.
Officials have not named the dogs' owner. Has he since been cited for anything? Such as loose dogs, failure to register or vaccinate, and not having a "kennel license." The county code states, "Every person who owns or controls a kennel or other place in the unincorporated areas of the county where more than five (5) dogs over the age of four (4) months are kept, for any purpose whatsoever, shall obtain a kennel license within thirty (30) days after the kennel is established and annually thereafter."
The California penal code requires prosecutors to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the owner had knowledge of the dog(s) vicious propensities (previous aggression), and "willfully suffers it to go at large," and the animal, "while so at large," kills a person who has taken precautions that any reasonable person would. The easiest way to prove this knowledge is by a documented bite or aggressive behavior. The public health department is adamant they had "no reports of aggression."
No Access to a Car
Like Corbin, a number of fatal dog mauling victims did not have a car when they were torn to shreds by violent dogs. These victims are on foot or bicycle and are much more exposed to potentially dangerous and vicious dogs along rural and city roads. Had the victim been in the safety of a vehicle, the dogs would have posed little to no threat. Not having access to a car is not the same as choosing to take a walk. The former adds considerable risk and exposure to all routine and non-routine tasks.
08/09/24 Police Press Release
Butte County, CA - On Thursday, at approximately 1:58 am, a resident contacted the Butte County Sheriff's Office about a deceased woman on Blackhawk Trail, which is about eight miles west of Feather Falls. Deputies responded to the scene and located the deceased individual, who has been identified as 56-year old Davina Corbin. An autopsy performed located numerous bite marks and injuries on her body. The forensic pathologist attributed the cause of death to a domestic dog attack.
During the investigation, deputies obtained a search warrant for a nearby residence on Blackhawk Trail. While deputies executed the search, they located 25 great dane dogs. "Deputies and detectives spent the entire day capturing the dogs, who were running loose in the area," states a release from the Butte County Sheriff's Office (BCSO). As of Friday, 23 dogs have been captured and turned over to Butte County Animal Control. Detectives continue to try to capture the two remaining dogs.
BCSO INVESTIGATING DOG MAULING DEATH
On August 08, 2024, at approximately 1:58 a.m., a resident contacted the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and reported he found a deceased victim on Blackhawk Trail, Feather Falls, California. Deputies immediately responded and located a deceased victim, who was later identified as Davina Corbin, age 56, of Feather Falls.
On August 08, 2024, a forensic pathologist performed an autopsy on Ms. Corbin. During the autopsy the forensic pathologist located numerous bite marks and injuries on Ms. Corbin’s body. Based on the evidence located during the autopsy, the forensic pathologist believed Ms. Corbin’s cause of death was attributed to a domestic dog attack.
Deputies and detectives conducted an extensive investigation. During the investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for a residence on Blackhawk Trail. The residence was located directly in front of the area where Ms. Corbin was located. During the service of the search warrant, detectives located approximately 25 Great Dane dogs. Butte County Animal Control responded. Deputies and detectives spent the entire day capturing the dogs, who were running loose in the area. To date, approximately 23 dogs have been captured and turned over to animal control. Detectives are currently attempting to capture the two outstanding dogs.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife sent the clothing Ms. Corbin was wearing to a lab for DNA analysis. The lab confirmed Ms. Corbin’s clothing was covered in DNA consistent with domestic dog(s). The lab is in the process of conducting additional testing, in an attempt to determine which dogs(s) attacked Ms. Corbin.
This is an on-going investigation. BCSO will provide additional information when available. Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives located evidence giving them cause to believe Ms. Corbin, who resides in the area, was walking when she was attacked by the dog(s). - Butte County Sheriff’s Office
DNA tests performed on Corbin's clothing confirmed her clothing was covered in DNA consistent with domestic dogs, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The DNA analysis laboratory is currently in the "process of conducting additional testing, in an attempt to determine which dogs(s) attacked Ms. Corbin," states the release. No information was released about the dogs' owner(s) or whether the dogs were part of a great dane breeding operation or rescue operation.
KHSL-TV reports that based on the preliminary investigation, detectives believe Corbin, who lives in the area, was walking when she was attacked by the dogs. A decade ago, it was reported that Corbin was experiencing homelessness. At that point, she had been camping in Feather Falls for about three years. Corbin described the community of Feather Falls as "close," whose residents were gracious and kind, including offering food and shelter to the homeless people who camped in the area.
The population of Butte County is about 211,600. The county seat is Oroville (pop. 20,000), but the highest number of people reside in Chico (pop. 101, 475). Paradise is also part of Butte County, which had one of the most destructive wildfires in California's history in 2018. The Berry Creek Rancheria of Tyme Maidu Indians of California is a federally recognized Native American Tribe headquartered in east Oroville. The Maidu tribe has a 65 acre reservation situated northwest of Feather Falls.
Family members have started a GoFundMe to help lay Davina Corbin, of Feather Falls, to rest.
KCRA reports that Max Hecker previously captured part of the great dane pack on video.
Davina Corbin was discovered dead on Blackhawk Trail after being mauled by 25 great danes.
Related articles:
07/05/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Husky Blamed for Deadly Dog Bite to Homeless Man in Fresno
12/29/23: 2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bulls Kill Homeless Man at Transient Camp in Central Oregon
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.
What’s up with people dying by a packs of dogs in whatever that place is called.if it not family dogs neighbors dogs or in laws dogs it that place.I’m thinking people are dumping their dangerous dogs over there.I wonder if she was walking or she lived there.I would to hate to died like that is one horrible way to died getting killed by dogs.
“Trying to determine which dogs actually attacked her”
WTH does it matter? No one can control 25 dogs much less GREAT DANES!
The pack should be put down and the owner in jail.
Some people have no freaking clue what civic responsibility means. All 25 dogs should be put down and the owner charged.
Loose dogs are UNACCEPTABLE. No excuses. One chihuahua loose in an area is unacceptable. 25 Great Danes?
My God, this is a horror story.
25 LOOSE Great Danes. TWENTY-FIVE.
I don’t care where they lived. Nobody, even a breeder or rescue has twenty-five full-sized Great Danes, running about the place.
Nobody is going to convince me that neighbours have not been complaining about barking, tonnes of dog poop and urine (imagine 25 small ponies) and even if they were friendly–the scariness of being around that many big dogs. The police must know. Whatever animal control in the area must know. The city/town officials must know.
And nobody did a dammed thing to stop it.
Somebody dropped the ball here.
Authorities in this area clearly don’t care about the welfare of the residents.
If anyone in this town has half a brain cell left–they’ll be starting an alternate government to deal with the residents in the area.
Who was feeding twenty-five Great Danes? What were they feeding the dogs? Who determined the dogs were Great Danes? Were a lot of the dogs simply hungry puppies? That number of dogs would cost thousands of dollars per month to feed, and they would depopulate the area of loose cats and possibly of loose dogs.
Two intact female Great Danes plus one male Great Dane could easily have totalled twenty five dogs if both females raised litters. Animal shelters have to be available to take in the dogs, provide spay/neuter, adopt out the adoptable dogs, and euthanize the unplaceable dogs.
Although I hate the idea of dogs being destroyed for no reason except too many dogs, that is better than dogs starving to death, dogs killing people
for no good reason, and people being too terrified to walk outside.
Although I am not able to be at home for likely a month, I’m sure that my seven year old and eleven month old GSDs will be safely babysat with no one being hurt. Breed of dog is important.
A mature healthy male Great Dane should weigh about 140 pounds. Few people have the knowledge and strength to start training out-of-control Great Danes. My own GSD puppy devours water hoses among other things, as he considers them to be toys.
There is no good reason for dogs to kill people. No reason good enough for me.
@KaD, that was my first reaction to that sentence as well. What does it matter which stupid dog did the actual mauling? The whole pack of them needs to be euthanized and the owner/org responsible for them needs to go to jail and never be allowed to own a dog again.
There were no witnesses. The only need for this would be DNA proof for criminal charges. However, DNA just proves contact not the bite and ingest (stomach contents, etc). One would think with that many dogs that some were young offspring, but the ages were not specified. Looking at property records, we saw 5 structures on Blackhawk Trails of which 4 were listed as “vacant.” The structures look like grow operations. It’s a remote area that can’t be viewed by Google Street Maps.
Is growing marijuana there legal?
It could be legal – it would have to comply with state requirements. Illegal grow operations still exist in California because it can be easier or more profitable.
If I lived in that area, I’d have to upgrade my dog attack protection weapon. I’d have to start carrying an AR with a couple extra mags just to go on an afternoon walk. Either that of just lay down and let them kill me. Has to be more going on with 25 Great Danes running loose. Poor woman never had a chance.
Is growing marijuana there legal?
Yes it is. You must be licensed, in compliance and there is a limitation on the number of plants. You’re not supposed to be a “commercial” operator. Butte County: “cultivation for personal use. Butte County prohibits all commercial cannabis activities and restricts personal cultivation of cannabis for both medical and adult use.” There was a loophole that I found. Looks like they had a complaint-driven system that wasn’t working. Now enforcement officers don’t need a complaint.
As you say, it would only take a few intact adults to reach 25. The problem is, it sounds like they were running around loose. Lots of grows (legal or otherwise) use guard-type dogs. They aren’t typically well taken care of and roam the property. They have no other function than to keep people out. There are also grow and harvest seasons. So, at times there may be periods of more or less human activity at the site. Also, there may be trailer homes or small homes out there that can’t be detected through Google Satellite. I only detected one parcel with an actual home on it on Blackhawk Trail.
This video contains new information — the pack was well known in the area. The pack had been reported numerous times… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ1DEM4uQVw
Welp, I think that was *exactly* what I said, would be the case…
So, thanks for finding the confirmation, Colleen.
So now that it’s confirmed–where the he11 were the authorities in dealing with 25 dog-ponies running about?
Just being able to see the environment was helpful. There literally were 25 dog-ponies running about! For more than a year! I will try to reach out to Max on Facebook.
Why aren’t they euthanizing the dogs?!
It’s typical of the Butte County animal control to not respond to dangerous dogs. The first I learned about pitbulls was from my neighbors border collie being attacked by attacked by a neighbors loose pitbull. Despite multiple people telling animal control that the pit bull owners just let their dog out to roam the neighborhood they saw no reason to care! They left & that evening the pit bull was turned out to terrorize the neighbors again! Only this time the poor little pibbe was ran over. The animal control went out door to door looking for the person who ran the dog over! It just seemed very wrong to care about the killer pitbull to the extent of making a door to door seach for the person who was guilty of running over a dog! Yet all the children & pets were just not important to the animal control! After all if he would have forced the pit bull owners to walk the dog instead of turning it “out to run” then they would have had to put effort into their dog. It’s not marijuana that’s the problem in the area its meth! They very easily make meth around the area! Anyone can buy marijuana legally and its too hot and dry to grow it well but they sure do love their meth in Oroville! Chico is burning because of some horrible person who set a car on fire and pushed it into Bidwell Park,
Paradise just burned down in 2018 with the camp fire killing 85 people, now Chico is burning & the Oroville area is overrun with meth addiction and has been for 25 years! Glad I don’t love there!
>> THERE ISN’T ANY INDICATION
1:28
OR EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE THIS
1:30
POINT THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO
1:31
PROVE THAT HE KNEW THAT THE
1:32
DOGS HAD A PROPENSITY TO BE
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AGGRESSIVE OR VICIOUS TOWARDS
1:37
HUMAN BEINGS AND WASN’T
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PRESENT WHEN THE ATTACK
1:41
OCCURRED. SO HE COULDN’T HAVE
1:45
DONE SOMETHING TO PROVOKE THE
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ATTACK OR PREVENT THE ATTACK
1:48
FROM OCCURRING. THE SHERIFF’S
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IyQcfc3O7o
Couldn’t prevent his 25 dogs from roaming…
I wonder if these were actual AKC Great Danes or some mix of them with pit genetics. Yes having 25 of them and little care could make a huge difference but any experience I have had with Great Danes they have been gentle dogs. Of course, they had one or two dogs, and they lived in the house and were pets not roaming.
https://blog.dogsbite.org/tag/great-dane
There are too many cases documented on this website of great danes killing human beings for me to believe they are “gentle”.
I’m glad the adult dogs are being euthanized – dogs coordinate attacks in packs, so even if a dog didn’t bite it still could have participated in the attack. It would have been a waste of money to DNA test (unless it would help identify additional dogs that weren’t captured yet). The puppies should also be euthanized – they are the spawn of man eaters and should be culled. Instead, they will be shoved into communities. Best of luck to their new neighbors.