Gridley Pit Bull Owner’s Death Still a Mystery
POSTED 6:27 PM, DECEMBER 17, 2015, BY LONNIE WONG
GRIDLEY —
Butte County Sheriff’s detectives are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine how 57-year-old Maria Torres died. Deputies went to her home just outside Gridley after she did not show up for work on Tuesday.
Her body was found with wounds consistent with a dog attack. In her home were her two pit bull terriers. At first detectives believed she may have been trying to break up a fight between her dogs.
“The pit bulls had injuries themselves, indicating they had been in a confrontation, in a fight with one another,” said sheriff’s spokesperson Miranda Bowersox.
Read more: http://fox40.com/2015/12/17/gridley-pit-bull-owners-death-still-a-mystery/
BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATES THEORIES SURROUNDING DEATH OF WOMAN INVOLVING HER DOGS
Thursday, December 17, 2015/Categories: Press Release
December 17, 2015
BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATES THEORIES SURROUNDING DEATH OF WOMAN INVOLVING HER DOGS
Oroville, Ca— At approximately 3:30 yesterday afternoon, deputies responded to a Gridley address to check on woman who had not reported to work as usual. Upon arrival, deputies found the woman deceased in her home. A press release was sent out yesterday evening indicating that Sheriff’s Office Detectives had determined that the decedent died due to injuries sustained while trying to keep her two dogs from fighting. That is a theory that is being explored, and was based on the fact that the dogs had injuries consistent with being involved in a fight with one another.
There are other theories that are also being evaluated including the possibility that the decedent died of natural causes and animal activity that involved her body occurred post-mortem. Although there are no apparent signs of foul play at this time, BCSO remains open to exploring evidence that would lead in that direction.
The autopsy is scheduled for today, and Sheriff’s Office detectives believe that will provide information that will help determine the cause of death.
For more information, please contact
BCSO PIO Miranda Bowersox
530.538.5384, 530.990.6949
[email protected]
Fighting pit bulls kill Gridley woman
A Gridley woman was apparently killed today by her pit bull terriers when she tried to break up their fight, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a home on Dewsnup Lane at 3:30 p.m. to check on the welfare of a woman who had not reported to work.
Deputies entered the home and found her dead.
Animal Control officers also arrived at the home to control the large dogs.
Sheriff’s detectives were summoned. They “determined that the dogs had been fighting, and the woman had tried to break them up. The woman sustained grave injuries as a result of her intervention and died as a result,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Relatives confirmed the dogs were her pets.
The woman’s name was not released pending notification of next of kin.
Gridley woman killed trying to break up dog fight
Dec 16, 2015 11:30 PM by News Staff
A Gridley woman has died from injuries she sustained while trying to break up a fight between her pitbulls, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
When the woman failed to show up for work Wednesday deputies were asked to conduct a welfare check at her Dewsnup Lane home. They arrived around 3:30 p.m. and found the woman inside with bite marks on her body. Two large pitbull terriers were roaming the house.
Animal control officers were called to the home and the sheriff’s office launched an investigation.
According to a news release sent out Wednesday night, investigators determined the woman had tried to break up a fight between the dogs and sustained “grave” injuries as a result.
The sheriff’s office said relatives told deputies that both of the dogs were the woman’s pets.
The woman’s name is being withheld until all of her family has been notified.
http://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/gridley-woman-killed-trying-to-break-up-dog-fight/
American Pit Bull Terrier
Pit Bull Terriers need regular vigorous physical activity. They crave mental and physical stimulation. Regular long walks and plenty of play time can be ideal ways to burn energy. If their exercise needs are not met, they can develop destructive behaviors. They can often excel at physical activities, such as jogging and weight pulling. Some clubs admit them to agility and fly ball; others don’t because it is dangerous to have APBTs off leash near other dogs and the clubs don’t want to bear the liability in the event of an attack.
The American Pit Bull Terrier needs early socialization and training. Since they are active dogs, they can become unmanageable quickly. They need a firm and consistent handler that can maintain control at all times. They are eager to please and can learn tricks if trained patiently. They are very active both indoors and outdoors. Despite proper training and socialization, many dogs may be hard to manage and can still have unwanted behaviors.
The American Pit Bull Terrier has a history and bloodline deep rooted in the blood sports of animal baiting and dogfighting. As with all breeds, they retain their original traits. They often to do not accept other animals, especially dogs, and can be extremely aggressive towards them. They may accept animals they are raised with, but have been known to kill other family pets even after years of living together happily.
Most APBT puppies get along fantastically with other animals, including dogs. Puppies often love to play with and have companionship with other animals. This often gives owners a false sense of security. As the APBT matures, their relationship with other animals can change drastically. Often dog aggression issues emerge from 1-3 years in age, but some dog’s exhibit aggression as early as 6 months of age. They often will actively seek out other dogs to engage in fighting with and have broken their collars, crashed through windows, and torn through fences to do so, and one recently leaped from an apartment 2nd story balcony, to get to a dog. They can get along with other dogs at times, but things can escalate quickly and they can attack suddenly and for no apparent reason. They often redirect onto humans who try to break up the fight14. Extreme caution should be used with all animal interactions and owners should never be completely comfortable. They can be unpredictable and a dog that plays nicely with dogs for years can suddenly change. Many owners have been shocked to see their beloved pet’s fighting instincts suddenly surface. It is highly recommended that the APBT is separated from other animals in the household when they cannot be supervised15. This is not a breed that is suitable for interactions at off leash dog parks16.
Click here to learn more about the American Pit Bull Terrier
2015 Dog Bite Related Fatalities in the U.S.
Updated after each fatality following fact finding research on Protect Children From Pit Bulls & Other Dangerous Dogs on Facebook
35 Dog Bite Related Fatality
by Breed.
27 by Pit Bull/Pit Bull Mix
2 by Rottweiler
1 by Golden/mixed breed
1 by American bulldog, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Labrador mix
4 Unknown/Pending
By Age :
14 Children
22 Adult
By State :
NM – 1 death
MD – 1 death
FL – 3 death
IA – 1 death
AR – 1 death
PA – 1 death
W. VA – 1 death
TX – 5 death
SD – 1 death
AR – 1 death
GA – 1 death
NV – 1 death
IL – 1 death
OK – 3 death
NC – 2 death
OH – 1 death
SC – 1 death
AL – 1 death
CA – 3 death
WV – 1 death
NY – 2 death
TN – 1 death
MI – 2 death
Names and ages of the deceased:
Unidentified Native American – about 40 y,o. – Gallup, NM – Pack of Feral Dogs [1.2.15]
Eugene W. Smith – 87- Frederick, MD – 1 Pit Bull [1.7.15]
Declin Moss – 18 months – Brooksville, FL – 2 Pit Bulls [1.19.15]
Malaki Mildward – 7yrs old – College Springs, IA – 2 Pit Bull/Bull Dog Mix [1.22.15]
Fredrick Crutchfield – 63 yrs old – Johnson county, AR – Pit Bull [ 2.4.15]
TayLynn DeVaughn – 2 yrs old – Pittsburgh, PA – Pit Bull [2.22.15]
Roy Higgenbotham – 62 yrs old – WHEELING, W.Va. – Pit Bull [3.8.15]
Betty Wood – 78 yrs old – SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX – Rottweiler [3.12.15]
Julia Charging Whirlwind – 49 yrs old – WHITE RIVER, SD – Pending [3.14.15]
Detrick Johnson – 36 yrs old – JEFFERSON COUNTY, AR – 7 Pit Bulls [3.21.15]
Neta Lee Adams – 81 yrs old – WASHINGTON, GA – Pending [3.31.15]
Kenneth Ford – 79 yrs old – NYE COUNTY, NV – Pit Bulls [4.14.15]
Brayden Wilson – 2 months old – Dallas, TX – Pit Bull [4.19.15]
Gaege Anthony Ramirez – 7 yrs old – NEW BRAUNFELS, TX – Pending [5.2.15]
James W. Nevils III – 5 yrs old – Chicago, IL – Pit Bull – [5.25.15]
Jordon Tyson Collins – 3 yrs old – Lawton, OK – Pit Bull – [6.28.15]
Norberto Legarda – 83 yrs old – Pecos, TX – Pit Bulls – [7.2.15]
Joshua Phillip Strother – 6 yrs old – Hendersonville, NC – Pit Bull – [7.7.15]
Annie L. Williams – 71 yrs old – Shaker Heights, OH – Pit Bull – [7.12.15]
Carolyn Lamp – 67 yrs old – COWETA, Ok – 3 Pit Bull/1 Rottweiler – [7.24.15]
Porsche Nicole Cartee – 25 yrs old – SPARTANBURG, SC – Pit Bull – [8.22.15]
Cathy Wheatcraft – 48 yrs old – DAVIE COUNTY, N.C. – Pit Bull – [8.24.15]
Barbara McCormick – 65 yrs old – Autauga County , AL – Golden/Mix – [8.2.15]
Emilio Rios Sr – 65 yrs old – Riverside County, CA. Pit Bulls – [8.8.15]
Carmen Reigada – 91 yrs old – Miami, FL. – American bulldog,Rhodesian Ridgeback, Labrador mix – [9.22.15]
Lamarkus Hakeem Hicks – 2 yrs old – Martinsburg, WV – Pit Bull – [9.28.15]
Edgar Brown – 60 yrs old – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. – Pit Bulls – [10.16.15]
Tanner Smith – 5 yrs old – Vidor, TX – Pit Bulls – [10.19.15]
Amiyah Dunston – 9 yrs old – Elmont, NY – Pit Bull – [11.8.15]
Anthony Riggs – 57 yrs old – Madison County ,TN – Rottweiler – [11.12.15]
Carter Hartle – 11 months old – MARSHALL, NY – Pit Bull – [11.15.15]
Xavier Strickland – 4 yrs old – Detroit, MI – Pit Bulls – [12.2.15]
Rebecca Lillian-Kay Hardy – 22 yrs old – Port Huron, MI – Pit Bull, Husky-mix – [12.3.15]
Maria Torres – 57 yrs old – Gridley, CA – Pit Bulls – [12.16.15]
Nyjah Espinosa – 2 yrs old – Miami-Dade, Fl – Pit Bull Type (American Bulldog) – [12.20.15]
On average in 2015 someone was killed by a pit bull every 13 days. Some of these pit bull attacks were from the family dog that was well trained and had never shown signs of aggression before. The only common factor in these severe and often fatal attacks is not abuse or lack of training, it is breed. Choose the breed of dog you trust the lives of your loved ones with wisely.
My Miniature Longhaired Dachshund was killed by a Pit Bull on our daily walk on Friday June 12/20 in Magalia, CA.
I am devastated about the loss of my faithful companion. He was from champion lines and will be hard to replace.
Animal control did it find it appropriate to put the Pit Bull down, so we are all still in danger. Cannot walk the street without a defensive
weapon. That is not the way I want to live.