A Deadly Walk in the Woods
Just before Christmas, a young woman by the name of Bethany Stephens from Goochland County, Virginia was mauled to death by her two pit-bulls, Pac-Man and Tonka. The incident, which is by far the most gruesome case I have ever heard of, has left law enforcement, dog-owners, dog handlers, veterinarians and humane societies all bewildered as to what caused the dogs to kill their owner.
No one actually knows for certain what happened on the afternoon of Thursday, December 14, 2017.
Bethany’s father told investigators that she had taken the two 100 pound dogs for a walk near his home. Previously, the dogs had resided with Bethany, but her peronal situation had recently changed and she decided to leave the dogs with her father. At her father’s the dogs were left outside in a kennel and spent most of their time with each other and very little human contact. Investigators also believe that Bethany’s father was not feeding the dogs daily and going from “inside, well-fed dogs” to “caged, outside dogs” who were not being fed regularly may have resulted in aggresive behavior.
Gruesome, Horrific Scene
When Bethany did not return Thursday with the dogs, her father became worried and contacted authorities. Sadly, Bethany’s body was found in the woods within a mile of her father’s home. She had wounds consistent with an animal attack and investigators reprted that when found, the dogs were feeding on the woman’s ribcage. Later tests revealed that human remains were found inside the stomachs of the two pit bull terriers.
A Community in Conflict
Many who knew the victim and her dogs were in absolute disbelief. A friend of the family told reporters that the dogs were very sweet and would “kill you with kisses.” Several members in the community commented on social media and accused the police of not fully investigating the event. Many believed it had to have been a homicide. Police eventually quieted the community by releasing gruesome details of the scene of the attack and reports from the coroner.
Statistics
In 2016, dog attacks were responsible for 31 wrongful deaths in the U.S. Pit Bull Terriers and Pit Bull mixed breed dogs were responsible for 71% of these fatalities.
Medical bills for serious injuries can cost anywhere from $250,000 to millions of dollars. Common medical procedures to address injuries inflicted from dog bits are skin grafts, reconstrcutive surgeries, amputations, scar diminishment, and tissue expansion. These procedures are often completed by performing multiple operations over the span of a few years.
Dog Bites accounted for over one-third of all homeowner’s insurance policy claims. These claims in 2016 cost more than 600 million dollars.
After an Attack
If you are attacked by an animal, seek medical attention immediately.
Dogs have rounded teeth and can cause serious damage beneath the surface of the skin to tendons, muscles and bones. Dog bites are also know to transmit rabies, so getting the vaccination history of the animal from the owner is imperative. If the dog owner will not give you the information, contact the police and animal control in your area.
Tetanus is also a potential and sometimes deadly infection caused by dog bites. Be sure that you have been vaccinated for tetanus recently.
After medical treatment, keep an eye on the bite. Animal bites are notorious for becoming infected. If you develop a fever, increased pain, swelling, heat around the wound or fever call your doctor immediately. These are signs of infection.
If you have prior conditions such as diabetes, weakened immune system, cancer, liver disease or HIV, seek medical attention for even minor wounds. Your current medical condition makes you more likely to develop serious complications from the injury.
After the Doctor’s Office
Hopefully, you’ll find yourself at home recovering from the incident quickly. Unfortunately, that won’t be the end of your ordeal. Medical bills will start to arrive in the mail and depending on your injuries they may be shockingly high. If the attack was unprovoked and you do not own the dog, you may be entitled to compensation.
Find a Roanoke Dog Bite Lawyer to Represent You in Your Case
Whether you’re the parent of a small child that was attacked by a neighbor’s dog, or a runner out for some exercise, you will need help navigating through the medical bills and insurance documents concerning the animal attack. The Thomson Law Firm offers FREE consulations to victims of personal injury.
YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY. YOU CAN TALK TO A ROANOKE LAWYER FOR FREE.
