UPDATED JUNE 2015

2006 dog bite fatalities ::

Statistical information gathered by DogsBite.org is verifiable through news reports and other criteria.1 Our Fatality Citations section documents sources used in our dog bite fatality research.

2006 dog bite fatality statistics2

2006 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities by Breed
2006 fatal dog attacks by breed
2006 dog bite fatality chart

In 2006, 2 dog bite fatalities involved canines from 2 or more different breeds, thus producing a death count total of 32, rather than 30. Six dog breeds each contributed to 1 death: boxer, English mastiff, great pyrenees-mix, mixed-breed, presa canario and wolf-dog hybrid.

2006 analysis and summary

  • 30 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2006. Pit bulls contributed to 57% (17) of these deaths. Pit bulls make up about 5% of the total U.S. dog population.3
  • Together, pit bulls (17) and rottweilers (9), the second most lethal dog breed, accounted for 87% (26) of the attacks resulting in human death in 2006.
  • 40% (12) of the fatality victims were children, 9-years and younger, and 57% (17) were adults, 19-years and older. One victim fell between the ages of 10 and 18.
  • 20% (6) of all victims were either visiting or living temporarily with the dog's owner when the fatal attack occurred. Of this subset, 67% (4) were inflicted by pit bulls.
  • 50% (15) of all fatal attacks involved more than one dog; 13% (4) involved a pack attack of 4 or more dogs. 10% (3) of all dog bite fatalities involved chained dogs.
  • 87% (26) of all fatalities occurred on the dog owner's property and 13% (4) off-property. Of the total off-property dog bite fatalities, 100% involved pit bulls.
  • In 2006, 70% (21) of all fatality victims were male and 30% of the victims were female. Of the male victims, over half (12) were ages 25-years and older.
  • 17% (5) of all deaths resulted in criminal charges; 100% of these cases involved pit bulls. South Carolina filed charges in 2 dog bite fatality deaths in 2006.
  • The state of Texas had the most dog bite-related fatalities (6), followed by Florida with 3 deaths. Alabama, California and both Carolinas each incurred 2 deaths.

2006 dog bite fatality victims

2006 dog bite fatality, fatal rottweiler attack, Ashton Scott

Ashton Scott

11-months old | Childress, Texasicon

Ashton Scott, 11-months old, was mauled to death by the family's rottweiler and died on January 5. According to the Childress Index, a newspaper in Childress, Texas, Ashton Scott was in the care of his great-grandmother when the dog attacked. She was warming a bottle for the infant when the rottweiler escaped from another room in the house and attacked the baby. The Childress County Grand will review the case, according to a KCBD news report. Very little other information was located about this boy's death, including the outcome of the grand jury review. [source citations]

Date of death: January 5, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Rottweiler Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Family
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Unknown
2006 dog bite fatality, Conner Laurens

Connor Lourens

7-years old | Lunenburg, Massachusetts

Connor Lourens, 7-years old, was visiting a neighbor's home when the owner's 140-pound English mastiff attacked his throat. The boy was entering the house on Easter Brook Road when the dog attacked him, according to police. Connor was taken by helicopter to UMass Memorial Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. The dog, a male named Buddy, was about 1-year old and records showed it had been neutered, police said. The small community was shaken by the tragedy. Connor's parents created the Connor Lourens Memorial fund shortly after his death. [source citations]

Date of death: February 4, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: English mastiff Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Yes Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal rottweiler attack, Dominic Giordano

Dominic Giordano

4-years old | Ulm, Montanaicon

Dominic Giordano, 4-years old, was attacked by a rottweiler while playing in his aunt and uncle's backyard. He died the following day after hours of emergency surgery. The boy, his sister and mother had been temporarily living with the victim's aunt and uncle who owned four rottweilers. The attack occurred when the boy went to play in the backyard; his mother believed the four dogs were kenneled at the time. When she checked on him about 10 minutes later, she discovered two of the dogs loose in the yard, the male standing over her son's bleeding body. [source citations]

Date of death: February 24, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Rottweiler Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Uncle
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Charles Gilbert Dalton

Charles Gilbert Dalton

52-years old | Mocksville, North Carolinaicon

Charles Dalton, 52-years old, was found dead on the side of the road. His parents said that his death marked the third son they had lost in 15 years. Two pit bulls were blamed in Dalton's death that belonged to his cousin, Jimmy Ray "J.J." Cowan III. The dogs, Infinity (female) and Rocky (male) were found with blood on them and seized by animal control. The Forsyth County medical examiner said that Gilbert suffered severe wounds to his face, scalp and arms. His right hand was also mangled in the attack. Two years later, Cowan pleaded guilty to manslaughter. [source citations]

Date of death: March 14, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Cousin
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes
2006 dog bite fatality, Quillan Cottrell

Quillan Cottrell

3-years old | Jameson, Missouriicon

Quillan Cottrell, 3-years old, was killed by his step-uncle's rottweiler. The boy's family had been watching the dog -- the dog was not normally at their home. Davies County Sherrif Kevin Heldenbrand said that Quillan might have been playing with the chained dog when it attacked. The mother got to her son, but not before fatal injury had been inflicted. Heldenbrand noted that Quillan's death was especially hard because the boy's step-father and his brother (the owner of the dog) both worked at the Pattonsburg jail. [source citations]

Date of death: March 20, 2006 Chained: Yes
Breed of dog: Rottweiler Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Step-uncle
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Unknown
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, John Doe

John Doe

45-50 years old | Compton, Californiaicon

A man -- whose identity was not released -- was mauled to death by three guard dogs after he jumped the fence at a metal working company. Authorities said the man suffered severe head and back injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said that the dogs, all pit bull-mixes, attacked the man after he jumped the fence at the Cal State Steel Company. Security guards who heard the man's screams called 911. Sheriff's deputies arrived to find the man badly mauled and still under attack. [source citations]

Date of death: April 8, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix (3) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Property Owner
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Juan Garcia

Juan Garcia

53-years old | Gallina, New Mexico

Juan Garcia, 53-years old, was brutally mauled by a pit bull, then dragged by the dog more than 50 feet, according to Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Deputy J.B. Turner. The dog ripped off all of Garcia's clothes, including his shoes, during the deadly attack. A bloody 2-by-4 with bite marks was found near Garcia's body indicating the victim had tried to defend himself. The suspected pit bull, named Max, was found covered in blood. The dog belonged to Julie Coletta Pederson. Garcia was a handyman and occasionally performed jobs for Pederson. [source citations]

Date of death: May 2, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Employer
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Unknown
2006 dog bite fatality, Dianna Acklen

Dianna Acklen

60-years old | Decherd, Tennessee

Dianna Acklen, 60-years old, was fatally attacked by three dogs in a rural residential area where she regularly walked. She was attacked on the property of Ronnie Swann in Decherd. The Franklin County librarian suffered 200-300 bite injuries. Dental records showed that two of the attacking dogs, great Pyrenees-mixes belonging to Dr. Ephraim Gammada, had been running loose at the time. The other dog, which belonged to Swann, was a mixed breed that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation determined was the sire of Gammada's dogs. [source citations]

Date of death: May 6, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Great Pyrenees-mix (2)
Mixed breed (1) 		Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Neighbors
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Raymond Tomco

Raymond Tomco

77-years old | Lusby, Marylandicon

Raymond Tomco, 77-years old, was found on the floor of his home with numerous bite wounds inflicted by pit bulls. One of the bites severed an artery, which may have led to his death. The three pit bulls in the home and two chained outside belonged to Tomco's daughter who discovered her father's body. Between June 2004 and March 2005, Christina Tomco had been cited nine times for having unlicensed and unrestrained dogs. She was issued fines totaling $600. Authorities shot and killed one pit bull on scene and seized the others from the property. [source citations]

Date of death: May 10, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (3) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Daughter
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Shaun McCafferty

Shaun McCafferty

27-years old | Phelan, Californiaicon

Shaun McCafferty, 27-years old, was mauled to death by up to eight pit bulls. The San Bernardino County coroner said that investigators initially thought he was murdered due to the severe trauma to his upper body. A subsequent investigation uncovered that McCafferty was attacked outside of a meth lab by a pack of pit bulls. His girlfriend, Lacey Gidney, was also attacked, but she managed to climb a fence and get away. Authorities returned to the home, impounded the dogs and arrested the property owner and two other men on suspicion of drug-related offenses. [source citations]

Date of death: June 7, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (8) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Property Owner
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Unknown
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Javlyin Anderson

Javlyin Anderson

14-months old | Conehatta, Mississippiicon

Javlyin Anderson, 14-months old, was killed by the family dog, one of two pit bulls kept on chains at her home in Conehatta, according to Newton County Sheriff Jackie Knight. At the time of the attack, she was playing in front of the family's home while being supervised by her two teenage siblings. The toddler's parents were inside the home when the attack occurred. The toddler wandered out of sight and was killed by the family's pit bull, named Brutus. Knight said pit bulls are not appropriate pets for families with small children due to their aggressiveness. [source citations]

Date of death: June 15, 2006 Chained: Yes
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Family
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Unknown
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal rottweiler attack, Gemma Carlos

Gemma Carlos

2-years old | Horizon City, Texasicon

Gemma Carlos, 2-years old, was killed by a rottweiler owned by an employee of an animal adoption service. Authorities believe the toddler wandered away from a caretaker's home that morning. Her dead body was found inside a doghouse by a deputy who shot and killed dog. She suffered a dislocated spine close to her neck and other injuries, the El Paso County medical examiner said. The dog's owner, Leonardo Sandoval, works for a nonprofit called Pet Guardian Angel. The dog was legally tied up in an unfenced backyard when it attacked. [source citations]

Date of death: June 22, 2006 Chained: Yes
Breed of dog: Rottweiler Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, Sandra Piovesan

Sandra Piovesan

50-years old | Salem, Pennsylvania

Sandra Piovesan, 50-years old, was mauled to death by her pet wolf-dog hybrids. Humane officer, Elaine Gower, had been out to Sandra's home on repeated occasions. She was concerned for Sandra and feared she was losing control of the dogs, but Gower said the owner felt a "spiritual connection with her animals." Sandra's body was discovered by her daughter inside the pen at her Salem Township home where she kept nine wolf-dog hybrids. She suffered extensive injuries to her extremities and the lower portion of her torso. The dogs were euthanized. [source citations]

Date of death: July 17, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Wolf-dog hybrid (9) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Victim
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Brandon Coleman

Brandon Coleman

25-years old | Morgantown, West Virginiaicon

Brandon Coleman, 25-years old, was found dead in his apartment from bite injuries by his pet pit bull. According to the state medical examiner and Morgantown police, Coleman died from "injuries sustained to the trachea by a dog bite." Rondrick Smith, his roommate, said Coleman had a history of seizures. Two years later, Kelli Chapman, who also suffered from a "history of seizures," was killed by her two pet pit bulls while sleeping. In both cases, it is unknown if a seizure caused the attack, if the attack caused a seizure or if there was ever a seizure at all. [source citations]

Date of death: July 13, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Victim
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Mariah Puga

Mariah Puga

3-years old | Hargill, Texasiconicon

Mariah Puga, 3-years old, was mauled to death by at least one of her family's two pit bulls and a rottweiler, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Department and family members. The child had wandered into the yard to pet a litter of puppies, whose mother, a pit bull named Valerie, was tied up nearby. Another pit bull and rottweiler were loose in the yard. When her mother heard her crying, she ran out and kicked the two attacking dogs off her daughter. Her family rushed her to the hospital, but she did not survive her injuries. [source citations]

Date of death: July 25, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (1)
Rottweiler (1)		 Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Family
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Unknown
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Jimmie McConnell

Jimmie McConnell

71-years old | Kansas City, Kansas

Jimmie Mae McConnell, 71-years old, was mauled to death by a pair of pit bulls while gardening in her backyard. The dogs jumped the fence and fatally attacked her. When firefighters and paramedics arrived, they had to use an axe and a pole to remove one of the dogs from her body. For years, Jimmie had told people that she was afraid of the neighbor's two dogs. After two years and two criminal trials, the owner of the dogs, Derrick Lee, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in jail. [source citations]

Date of death: July 27, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, John Brannaman

John Brannaman

81-years old | Kissimmee, Floridaicon

John Brannaman, 81-years old, was attacked by a pair of loose pit bulls in his front yard while taking out the trash. He died one week later due to complications from the attack and heart failure. Neighbors said the dogs came out of nowhere and suddenly attacked the elderly man. One neighbor, Bobby McIntyre, shot and killed one of the dogs while another neighbor used a shovel to pry the other dog off the victim. About a month later, officials charged the dog owner, Peter Santiago with culpable negligence. [source citations]

Date of death: July 31, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes (MISD)
2006 dog bite fatality, Shawna Willey

Shawna Willey

30-years old | Coral Springs, Florida

Shawna Willey, 30-years old, was attacked and killed by her presa canario as she bathed the animal. When paramedics arrived, they saw Shawna dead -- covered in blood and wounds -- and her 120 pound dog standing over her acting aggressively. The police shot and killed the dog named Xino. Her daughter Tyra witnessed the attack. She ran to a neighbor's house to get help. Shawna's boyfriend, Lazaro Rivero, said they had the two presa canaries (each about a year old) and a pit bull for protection. [source citations]

Date of death: August 18, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Presa canario Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Victim
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Frank Baber

Frank Baber

49-years old | Spur, Texasicon

Frank Baber, 49-years old, was brutally killed by two pit bulls near his motor home that was parked inside Blackburn's Auto-Salvage. The victim had lived around the dogs for about three months. He shared the salvage yard with them, but did not own them. Dickens County Sheriff Ken Brendle said the attack apparently started inside a building next to Baber's motor home. There were signs Baber tried to fight back, including a 20-foot trail of torn up ground and blood spatter. The owner found his body and called police. The two adult female pit bulls were put down. [source citations]

Date of death: August 28, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Female Owner of dog: Business owner
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal boxer attack, Pablo Fleites

Pablo Fleites

56-years old | Miami-Dade County, Florida

Pablo Fleites, 56-years old, was fatally attacked by his own dog. Police found the victim dead inside the dog's pen along with his 5-year old male boxer covered in the man's blood. A 6-month old female boxer was also in the pen, but authorities do not believe she participated in the attack. Police do not know what prompted the attack, but believe the victim may have been intoxicated when he entered the pen. Fleites lived in a shed on the property, a three-acre farm owned by the Ynigo family. One of the family members found his body and called authorities. [source citations]

Date of death: August 28, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Boxer Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Victim
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal rottweiler attack, Julius Graham

Julius Graham

2-years old | Snow Hill, North Carolinaicon

Julius Graham, 2-years old, was mauled to death by a rottweiler that dug his way out of a pen to attack him. Little Graham wandered into the yard next to his grandparents' house when he was met by the dog. After deputies arrived, they shot the dog to death. The boy was pronounced dead at Lenoir Memorial Hospital. At the time of the attack, the dog owners, Katona and Johnny Ormond, were out of town and a family member was house sitting. Authorities said that the dog had not been identified as a "problem dog" before the fatal attack. [source citations]

Date of death: October 3, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Rottweiler Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Neighbor
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Jeannine Fusco

Jeannine Fusco

44-years old | Airmont, New Yorkicon

Jeannine Fusco, 44-years old, was killed after being bitten in the head and throat by a pit bull she and her sister were watching for a friend. Police said the dog violently attacked 44-year-old Jeannine Fusco in the garage of her home. The victim suffered severe bites to her throat, head and neck. By the time police officers arrived, Jeannine was already dead, and the dog had disappeared. Her sister, Valerie Wall, 43, was bitten on the leg and hand and taken to a local hospital. Police officers later found the dog in the home's backyard and killed it. [source citations]

Date of death: October 7, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Acquaintance
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, David McCurry

David "Ted" McCurry

41-years old | Willis, Texasicon

David "Ted" McCurry, 41-years old, and Kimbery Cunningham drove to the residence of Firas Beseisso to inquire about the sale of a large, mature pit bull. The three were talking when the pit bull, Dax, broke free from the owner and attacked McCurry and Cunningham. Cunningham was attacked first but she was able to get to the roof of her car for safety as McCurry and Beseisso attempted to restrain the dog from further attacks. While attempting to restrain the pit bull, it attacked McCurry, biting over 90 percent of his body. The fatal bite was to his neck. [source citations]

Date of death: October 28, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Acquaintance
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal rottweiler attack, Ariel Pogue

Ariel Pogue

2-years old | Camp Hill, Alabamaicon

Ariel Pogue, 2-years old, was mauled to death outside of her home by one of her family's three rottweilers. Neighbors said the girl and her mother were getting out of their car when one of the dogs, which was not tied up, attacked the toddler. David Holloway, 14, was walking nearby with a friend when he heard the mother screaming. Holloway bravely tried to help save the baby, but Pogue's injuries were too severe; she died at the scene. The dogs were not aggressive in the past, according to neighbors and family members. The rottweiler was put down. [source citations]

Date of death: November 3, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Rottweiler Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Family
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, John Matthew Davis

John Matthew Davis

10-years old | Dillon, South Carolinaicon

John Matthew Davis, 10-years old, was viciously attacked and killed by up to six dogs while walking home. His body was found in the driveway of the dogs' owner, Bentley Collins. Authorities charged Collins with one count of involuntary manslaughter and three counts of keeping unconfined, dangerous animals. During the criminal trial, it was revealed that the attacking dogs were pit bull-mixes. Collins was convicted on all charges on January 30, 2009. Collins filed an appeal, and in February 2012, the South Carolina Court of Appeals granted Collins a new trial. The state appealed the decision. In 2014, the Supreme Court of South Carolina reversed the appeals court decision, reinstating the conviction of Bentley Collins. [source citations]

Date of death: November 3, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix (6) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Property Owner
Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Yes
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Allen Young

Allen Young

21-months old | Bamberg, South Carolinaicon

Allen Young, 21 months old, was mauled to death by his father's four pit bulls. Bamberg County deputies said the child was in his father's bed asleep when the father stepped outside to talk to his landlord. The father was reportedly outside for "5 to 10 minutes." In this time, the pit bulls dragged the boy from the bed and began mauling him on the floor. The boy died the next morning at a hospital. The pair had recently moved to the location of the attack and the father had not yet had time to build a pen for the dogs. The father was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter. [source citations]

Date of death: November 5, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull (4) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Father
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Yes
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal rottweiler attack, Luis Romero Jr.

Luis Romero Jr.

2-years old | Drexel Heights, Arizonaicon

Luis Romero Jr., 2-years old, died after being viciously attacked by his family's two rottweilers. The attack happened at his family's southwest side home. The Pima County Sheriff's Department said his mother found the toddler while he was being attacked in the front yard. Romero's parents frantically attempted to drive him to the hospital, but saw a sheriff's deputy and stopped to request his help. A helicopter was summoned to take the boy to the hospital; he died before arriving at University Medical Center. The two male rottweilers were seized and euthanized. [source citations]

Date of death: November 6, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Rottweiler (2) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Parents
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Richard Adams

Richard Adams

47-years old | Phenix City, Alabamaicon

Richard Adams, 47-years old, was found half eaten at an auto sales and repair shop before a sheriff's deputy shot and killed the dog. According to Russell County Coroner John Morgan, a man who stopped by the garage to feed the pit bull discovered his mutilated body. He immediately called for help. Morgan said there were signs that Adams was alive when the dog attacked him. "There were signs of a struggle," Morgan said. This eliminated the idea initially circulated that Adams might have suffered a heart attack then was eaten by the dog after he died. [source citations]

Date of death: November 8, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Business owner
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal rottweiler attack, James Eisaman

James Eisaman

40-years old | Akron, Ohioicon

James Eisaman, 40-years old, was mauled to death by his girlfriend's two male rottweilers. Sandra Ross, his girlfriend, said she heard noises in the basement and found Eisaman lying on the stairs bleeding. At the time of the attack, the victim was in a leg immobilizer due to a broken leg. Authorities questioned why he was in the basement at all. Eisaman suffered severe wounds to his head and neck; there were no bites on his arms or torso. Ross said that when she reached Eisaman, he mouthed the words: "Please don't destroy them" (the dogs). [source citations]

Date of death: November 11, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Rottweiler (2) Relationship to dog: Family
Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Girlfriend
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No
2006 dog bite fatality, fatal pit bull attack, Pedro Rios

Pedro Rios

4-years old | Pasadena, Texasicon

Pedro Rios, 4-years old, was mauled to death by two pit bull-mixes in his east Harris County neighborhood. The boy's mother heard her son's screams and ran outside to find him being attacked by the dogs at the King Parkway mobile home community. She suffered minor injuries as she tried to fight them off, but the dogs refused to let go of her son's body. The pit bulls released the boy only after being distracted by the lights and sirens of the deputies' cars when they arrived minutes later. [source citations]

Date of death: November 21, 2006 Chained: No
Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family
Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Unknown
Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes
On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No
Citations
  1. DogsBite.org contains verifiable information about U.S. citizens killed by dogs including the name and age of each victim, location of attack, dog breed and up to 25 other factors. Our Fatality Citations section documents sources used in our dog bite fatality research. Learn more about our data collection method, which includes collecting breed identification photographs, police and coroner reports in certain cases, legal filings, court filings, legislative materials and more.
  2. Change Log: In June 2015, the 2006 Dog Bite Fatality Statistics were reissued with the following changes: Cody Adair was removed and reclassified as a 2005 dog bite fatality. Cody was killed by his uncle's pit bull on December 30, 2005. In the death of Mariah Puga, another dog breed was added, a rottweiler.
  3. Decade of Adoption Focus Fails to Reduce Shelter Killing, by Merritt Clifton, Animal People, July/August 2009.