Posted on 11/28/2009 7:47:28 AM PST by SLB
WHITE MILLS — An autopsy on Thursday revealed that Karen Gillespie — the White Mills woman found dead near her residence Wednesday morning — was killed by head injuries sustained in a dog attack.
Deputy Hardin County Coroner John Clemens said the majority of Gillespie’s injuries were head-related and she died shortly after the attack. Clemens’ investigation also revealed Gillespie died between 4:15 and 5 p.m. Tuesday evening — more than 12 hours before her body was found on a Webb Mill Road property adjacent to the home of the dog’s owners.
The dog Kentucky State Police believe attacked and killed Gillespie was detained by Hardin County Animal Control at the scene and likely will be euthanized within the next 10 days, said KSP detective Larry Walker. There were no witnesses of the attack, Walker said, but evidence indicated the detained dog initiated the attack. Walker collected swabs of DNA from the dog before it was removed from the scene.
The dog’s owner, Howard Miller, had placed a sign on his property warning visitors of the presence of dogs. In interviews with the owners, Walker said he learned of a prior attack on a U.S. Census worker at the home. Walker said Hardin County Animal Control and health officials were informed of the incident at the time, and it appeared to be the same dog. There were other dogs on the premises, but police did not indicate they were involved in Gillespie’s death.
Walker said police also were told the dog bit a firefighter involved in the search for Gillespie, and blood — believed to be Gillespie’s — was transferred to the firefighter during the incident.
Upon the completion of his investigaton, Walker said he will turn over his findings to the county attorney for review. If the review calls for criminal charges, Walker said, police will proceed in that direction.
Walker said Gillespie’s death probably could have been prevented, but there was no criminal intent by the dog’s owners. Harboring vicious animals is a misdemeanor under Kentucky law.
“It’s a sad, sad situation, especially around the holidays,” Walker said.
Gillespie’s husband, Stephen, reported his wife missing around 7 p.m. Tuesday. A number of local law enforcement and fire agencies were dispatched into search crews — a search that lasted throughout Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Gillespie’s body was found by law enforcement officials around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Stephen Gillespie said his wife, a retired librarian, had left their home to find and photograph the remnants of a one-room schoolhouse in the area.
My son-in-law’s parents live about a mile from where this happened. His dad has called the owner and the sheriff department several times about dogs running loose and chasing livestock and wildlife. Nothing was done and now this. Hmmm, makes me sort of wonder about the good old boy syndrome in Hardin County. He now has taken the shoot and forget attitude in dealing with them. No shovel afterwords, just shoot and forget.
At 4 AM?
Dog attack ping
Stop blaming the breed. IT IS THE OWNERS THAT MAKE A DOG DANGEROUS.
Where is the DNA test to prove the dog did it.
Fast way to end an investigation. Not a murder, the dog did it.
My bad. 4 pm
That's real effective.
The DNA was taken the day the body was discovered. The victim’s DNA and that of the firefighter were both found on the dog. Read my post to Lion Den Dan and then tell me these dogs were lovely little lap dogs.
I took my boxer to a dog park a couple of weeks ago. Someone warned me of a white pit that was really nasty. Unfortunately, they didn’t warn me of another dog, a black pit that was just as bad. As soon as this black pit was released he went after my boxer (who just loves to play at the park). Fortunately,the owner got her dog off my dog before there was too much damage.
The boxer was bleeding under the neck and ear but not too bad. I have made a rule that if there is a pit at the park the boxer doesn’t play until they leave. Its a shame I have to do this but these owners don’t really care.
WRONG. Its all about the breed. They were bred to be vicious and until that is bred out don’t even talk.
I didn’t say they were lap dogs. Any violent, deadly behavour is the responsibility of the owners.
Plus not everyone is capable of having a strong dog.
These animals are pure muscle. And are not to be abused.
Watch out if you have an A hole neighbor that gets his/ her kicks out of teasing and abusing dogs.
In the 3-year period of 2006 to 2008, two dog breeds accounted for 73% of all fatal attacks: pit bulls and rottweilers. http://www.dogsbite.org/dangerous-dogs.htm
Right /s
Too bad someone didn’t shoot the beast before it killed a woman
Based on what, exactly?
The picture in the paper on Wednesday showing animal control holding the dog while a Kentucky State Trooper takes swabs from the mouth and hair for DNA analysis, that came back with DNA from both the victim and the firefighter being present on the dog.
According to the comments, that dog was brachycephalic, like a bull dog.
So why’d they remove the picture, and why is the reporter so careful to refer to it as ‘the dog’?
“but there was no criminal intent by the dog’s owners”
100% Total BS. The dog owner needs to be locked up and throw away the key.
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