Thread: Investigation into pit bull attack continues

This is one of the worst dog maulings I've ever heard.

Dixie

http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm? ... 2215&rfi=6

Investigation into pit bull attack continues
By: Jamie Nash, Courier staff10/31/2006

WILLIS - No charges have yet been filed against the owner of a pit bull dog that attacked and killed a Willis man Saturday.

The man killed by the dog at a home on FM 1097 has been identified as David "Ted" McCurry, 41, of Panorama Village. Investigators are doing more research before determining whether the dog should be destroyed, according to Montgomery County Sheriff's Detective Tommy Overstreet.
Overstreet said Monday no charges were initially filed against the dog's owner, Firas Neil Besesso, 22, of Willis, but he is continuing to review information and plans to turn the case over to the Montgomery County District Attorney's office.

District Attorney Mike McDougal said there was no recent precedent for the case and he would have to review all of the information before he determined what course of action might be taken.

Overstreet said the Southeast Texas Forensic Center in Conroe, which performed the autopsy on McCurry, released its findings in the death on Monday, listing McCurry's cause of death as a "completely severed carotid artery and jugular vein and fracture to the back of the neck."

Overstreet noted that McCurry had been bitten over 90 percent of his body.

Overstreet said McCurry and 19-year-old Kimberly Cunningham went to the Beseisso's home to inquire about "Dax", the large mature male pit bull dog Beseisso was attempting to sell.

While Cunningham and McCurry were talking to Beseisso, the dog broke free from the owner and tried to attack Cunningham. McCurry tried to rescue the young woman.

"Apparently he (McCurry) was being a good Samaritan and tried to protect her," Overstreet said. Cunningham managed to climb on the roof of her car, which was parked in Beseisso's driveway, but McCurry could not escape from the dog.

As Beseisso continued to try to retrain the pit bull, "It again broke away from Mr. Beseisso's grip and attacked Mr. McCurry, biting him over 90 percent of his body," Overstreet said.

The pit bull was able to drag the 180-pound man to the ground ,where he attacked McCurry's neck and head, which the medical examiner determined to be the fatal bites.

Beseisso also sustained scratches and minor bites trying to pull the dog off McCurry. Overstreet said his investigation revealed Beseisso purchased the dog five months ago for home security, but claimed the dog was not aggressive.

"According to Mr. Beseisso, he stated that Dax had never shown any type of aggression toward anyone and this was the first incident of an attack like this," he said.

Montgomery County Animal Control officers removed the pit bull from the scene but the dog was not immediately destroyed.

Overstreet enlisted the help of consultant Jim Crosby of Florida, a canine aggression expert and researcher. Crosby will assist the investigation by evaluating the dog and conducting research, Overstreet said, before Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Lanny Moriarty signs a court order for the dog to be destroyed.

McCurry, an Alabama native, will be returned to that state for funeral services and burial.

Jamie Nash can be reached at jnash@hcnonline.com

I cannot believe that they are even contemplating whether this dog should be put down. There is no other choice if a dog has already killed a person. And, I don't believe the owner had no prior warning that this dog might be aggressive.

Kate,

That was my thought. I think this dog was trained to fight. There are a lot of illegal dog fights and rooters fights down here. Very popular activity for people with "family values".

Dixie