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NC girl dies after pit bull attack, grandmother severely injured Posted: Jan 13, 2011 10:41 AM EST
Sky 3 circles above the area where the girl was attacked by the dogs Written by Chris Dyches - email & Jeff Rivenbark - email WAXHAW, NC (WBTV) - Two pit bulls attacked and killed a young girl and severely injured her grandmother in Union County Wednesday morning. According to the Waxhaw Police Department, five-year-old Makayla Woodard and her grandmother, 67-year-old Nancy Presson, were attacked by the dogs just after 11:00 a.m. at 325 Rehobeth Road, which is not far from downtown Waxhaw. Presson was hurt while trying to get the dogs off Makayla, police said. Makayla and Presson were transported to Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe where the girl died a short time later from her injuries. Presson was under sedation and listed in stable condition in the hospital's emergency department as of Wednesday at 4 p.m. Person's daughter, who is Makayla's mother, said Wednesday night that her mother's injuries were severe, but that she would survive them. Makayla's mother also said that she was upset that the media had called the dogs vicious, even though the dogs killed her daughter. She said they had always been friendly up until Wednesday's attack. Amy Plyler, who is a family member, said the girl was attacked while trying to get into a fenced-in yard adjacent to her home. Makayla was mauled by a pit bull named Rebel which Plyler said "tended to wander the street." "I don't know if Makayla even saw them coming," she said. Investigators said Rebel was immediately killed by authorities. The other dog was on the loose for a short time, but was later fatally shot by authorities. Both dogs were owned by neighbor Michael Gordon. Waxhaw police say they had just gone to Gordon's house around Christmas and warned him about restraining his dogs. A man who lives nearby on Sweetbay Court said he heard a woman's scream around 11:10 a.m. Scott Bland was in his driveway trying to clear snow and ice so he could go to work. "She was screaming non-stop, she would catch her breath--there were no words, just screams," said Bland who called 911. "It was like a horror film, just high-pitch squeals, a woman's voice, the screaming just got worse." Bland says when he spoke with a 911 operator, they had already received other calls concerning the attack. "It was a little bit unnerving to know the pit bull dogs were running around the neighborhood," Bland said. "This is a perfect example of why people should not allow these dogs to run loose." Waxhaw has a leash law which says that bans dog owners from letting their dogs run loose. It appears Gordon will be charged with violating the leash law, but Waxhaw police chief Michael Eiss says more charges than that could be coming. Eiss says his department has been in contact with the Union County District Attorney's office about the case, which is still officially under investigation.
5-year-old dies in dog attack, grandmother injured
by MICHELLE BOUDIN / NewsChannel 36 WAXHAW, N.C. – A little girl has died and her grandmother is in the hospital after two pit bulls attacked them on Wednesday. Waxhaw police say the two dogs attacked 5-year-old Makayla Woodard and 67-year-old Nancy Presson in their front yard. The dogs were captured and killed by police. It happened around 11 a.m. on Rehobeth Road near downtown Waxhaw. Neighbors say they had complained many times about the two dogs roaming free. The police chief had a hard time discussing the attack, describing it as gruesome. Neighbors are struggling too, saying this tragedy could have been avoided. Amy Plyler choked up talking about her young cousin. “She was a good kid,” Plyler says. “She loved to play dress up and play in the snow.” Plyler says the little girl was mauled on the way to play with her own dogs. Two of the neighbor’s pit bulls pinned her down, biting the Waxhaw elementary student repeatedly in the neck. Her grandmother was bitten in the arm trying to save her. Caroline King has two children and lives just down the street. She says the dogs attacked her just a few weeks ago, but backed away before actually biting her. “Why were they not secure? Could they have stopped this?” King asked. “Now a 5-year-old is dead and there’s nothing we can do about it.” Angry neighbors joined anguished family members, upset because the pit bulls often roamed free. The homeowner admitted to us the dogs often managed to hop the fence. “The fact there were previous complaints, I don’t understand why they were out in the first place,” said Plyler. The police chief says there is a suspect and charges are likely. But that’s coming too late for Makayla’s cousin. “She was just such a good kid, beautiful… smart… and she was loved very much,” Plyler said. According to Waxhaw's town ordinance, dogs must be contained on a property by a fence or invisible security system. The Waxhaw chief told reporters the reason it’s difficult to enforce the leash law is because there is no animal control officer. That should change next month.
Makayla Woodard Killed By Pit Bull Dogs In Waxhaw
WAXHAW, NC - Two pit bulls attacked and killed a young girl and severely injured her grandmother in Union County Wednesday morning. According to the Waxhaw Police Department, five-year-old Makayla Woodard and her grandmother, 67-year-old Nancy Presson, were attacked by the dogs just after 11 a.m. at 325 Rehobeth Road, which is not far from downtown Waxhaw. Presson was hurt while trying to get the dogs off Makayla, police said. Makayla and Presson were transported to Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe where the girl died a short time later from her injuries. Presson was under sedation and listed in stable condition in the hospital’s emergency department as of Wednesday at 4 p.m
Person’s daughter, who is Makayla’s mother, told WBTV’s Brigida Mack Wednesday night that her mother’s injuries were severe, but that she would survive them. Makayla’s mother also said that she was upset that the media had called the dogs vicious, even though the dogs killed her daughter. She said they had always been friendly up until Wednesday’s attack. Amy Plyler, who is a family member, told WBTV Reporter Sharon Smith the girl was attacked while trying to get into a fenced-in yard adjacent to her home. Makayla was mauled by a pit bull named Rebel which Plyler said “tended to wander the street.” “I don’t know if Makayla even saw them coming,” she said. Investigators said Rebel was immediately killed by authorities. The other dog was on the loose for a short time, but was later fatally shot by authorities. Both dogs were owned by neighbor Michael Gordon. Waxhaw police tell WBTV they had just gone to Gordon’s house around Christmas and warned him about restraining his dogs. A man who lives nearby on Sweetbay Court told WBTV he heard a woman’s scream around 11:10 a.m. Scott Bland was in his driveway trying to clear snow and ice so he could go to work. (Click to see our complete interview with Scott Bland.) “She was screaming non-stop, she would catch her breath–there were no words, just screams,” said Bland who called 911. “It was like a horror film, just high-pitch squeals, a woman’s voice, the screaming just got worse.” Bland says when he spoke with a 911 operator, they had already received other calls concerning the attack. “It was a little bit unnerving to know the pit bull dogs were running around the neighborhood,” Bland said. “This is a perfect example of why people should not allow these dogs to run loose.” Waxhaw has a leash law which says that bans dog owners from letting their dogs run loose. It appears Gordon will be charged with violating the leash law, but Waxhaw police chief Michael Eiss says more charges than that could be coming. Eiss says his department has been in contact with the Union County District Attorney’s office about the case, which is still officially under investigation.
Grand jury indicts man in pit bull attack that killed 5-year-old girl Posted: Jan 12, 2011 1:00 PM EST WAXHAW, NC (WBTV) - A Union County grand jury has indicted the owner of pit bulls that allegedly attacked and killed a 5 year old girl in January. The indictment formally charges Michael Gordon, 23, of Waxhaw, with felony involuntary manslaughter in the death of Makayla Woodard. Deputies arrested Gordon Thursday inside the Union County courthouse while he was to appear on the felony and misdemeanor charges. Related: Read the grand jury indictment The charges had been continued until March 17, however, the grand jury returned the indictment march 7. An order for Gordon's arrest was signed March 16. Gordon is scheduled for court again May 12. Makayla is survived by her parents, Kristin Lea Frady of Waxhaw, and Raken Chase Woodard of Marshville. "I loved my daughter," said Frady. "She was our princess." Makayla and her great-grandmother, 67-year-old Nancy Presson, were attacked by the dogs on Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 325 Rehobeth Road. Presson was bitten several times on her arm and hand while trying to pull the dogs off Makayla, according to police. Makayla and Presson were taken to Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe where the girl died. Presson was treated for serious wounds and later released from the hospital. In the days following the attack, Makayla's mother said she was upset the media described the dogs as vicious, even though the dogs killed her daughter. She said the dogs had always been friendly up until the attack. Amy Plyler, who is a family member, said the girl was attacked while trying to get into a fenced-in yard adjacent to her home. Makayla and her mother lived with Presson. Makayla was mauled by a pit bull named Rebel which Plyler said "tended to wander the street." "I don't know if Makayla even saw them coming," Plyler said. Investigators said Rebel was immediately killed by authorities. The other dog was on the loose for a short time, but was later fatally shot by officers. Both dogs belonged to neighbor Michael Gordon. According to the Waxhaw Police Department, officers visited Gordon's house in December and warned him about restraining the dogs. Some people believe the two pit bulls were abused, but a woman who answered the door at Gordon's home said it wasn't true and that "people make up a whole lot of stuff." On the morning the girl was attacked, Scott Bland was in his driveway trying to clear snow and ice so he could go to work. (Click to see our complete interview with Scott Bland.) video unavailable. "She was screaming non-stop, she would catch her breath--there were no words, just screams," said Bland who called 911. "It was like a horror film, just high-pitch squeals, a woman's voice, the screaming just got worse." Bland said when he spoke with a 911 operator, they had already received other calls concerning the attack. "It was a little bit unnerving to know the pit bull dogs were running around the neighborhood," Bland said. "This is a perfect example of why people should not allow these dogs to run loose." The town of Waxhaw does has a leash law prohibiting pet owners from letting their dogs run loose. The Waxhaw board of commissioners want to form a group to examine the town's current rules and a way of dealing with problem dogs. The group could include a representative from police and a veterinarian. "It breaks my heart," said Waxhaw mayor Daune Gardner. "I know that our entire community's heart is just torn up by this. It's tragic." |
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