“THOSE ARE NOT EVEN MY DOGS ANYMORE”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AUTHORITIES SAY DEANNA BLITCH LIED TO DEPUTIES AFTER HER TWO PIT BULLS FATALLY MAULED A 74-YEAR-OLD VETERAN IN HIS OWN YARD… AND SHE HAS NOW PLED GUILTY TO FOUR MISDEMEANOR CHARGES OVER THE FATAL ATTACK.
On June 10, 2011, Roy McSweeney was outside his home on Old Hawthorne Road in Putnam County, Florida.
The 74-year-old disabled veteran was doing yard work on the property.
Two pit bulls suddenly jumped the fence separating his yard from the neighboring parcel.
The animals came directly from the property next door.
They attacked McSweeney as he worked outside his residence.
The dogs tore off the veteran’s right arm during the mauling.
They partially amputated his left arm as the attack continued.
The animals also left McSweeney with severe facial injuries.
Emergency medical responders rushed the 74-year-old to Shands Hospital in Gainesville.
McSweeney died at the hospital six days later.
Investigators determined that the two pit bulls belonged to Deanna Blitch, a 51-year-old woman who lived next door.
The fatal encounter on Old Hawthorne Road was not the first time the dogs had attacked someone.
In January 2010, the same two dogs mauled a caretaker named Robert Floyd.
Floyd sustained injuries to his mouth, his leg, and his stomach during that mauling.
Then, in May 2011, the same animals bit a second man, Edward Cormier.
Cormier was bitten severely enough that medical providers had to close the wounds with 40 stitches.
Following both the January 2010 and May 2011 incidents, authorities held the animals for a short quarantine.
Officials returned both dogs to Blitch after each quarantine period ended.
Investigators concluded that neither prior attack met the criteria to be classified as severe enough under the law to trigger an official dangerous-dog designation.
TRUMP UNLEASHES ED MARTIN: The Ultimate Battle For Election Integrity Begins Now
Miami killer who blasted 14 shots into wrong car at age 16 has life sentence reduced to 40 years
Minneapolis Apartment Complex Shooting Leaves Two Dead and Six Wounded as Suspect Reportedly Takes Own Life Following Eviction Dispute
The animals remained in Blitch’s custody until the fatal mauling of McSweeney occurred in June 2011.
When Putnam County deputies arrived to investigate the attack on McSweeney, Blitch initially denied having custody of the animals.
Blitch told deputies that she no longer owned the two pit bulls.
She told investigators that the dogs belonged to a friend instead.
And her son, William, soon contradicted the explanation she gave to law enforcement.
William told investigators that the dogs were still living inside the home.
Both pit bulls were subsequently euthanized by authorities.
A grand jury reviewed the case and returned an indictment against Blitch.
The grand jury indicted Blitch on two counts of attack by a dangerous dog.
The indictment also charged her with one count of resisting an officer.
Blitch faced an additional fourth count for giving false information to police.
Her son faced related criminal charges in connection with the false statements provided to law enforcement officers.
Blitch ultimately resolved the case in court by entering a guilty plea.
She pleaded guilty to all four misdemeanor charges brought against her in the indictment.
The court sentenced Blitch to serve two years of probation.
The judge also ordered Blitch to serve 90 days in jail.
Under the terms of the sentence, Blitch was directed to serve the 90 days across 45 weekends.
The court also ordered Blitch to cover the financial costs resulting from the fatal attack.
She was ordered to pay for McSweeney’s funeral.
She was ordered to pay for his burial.
No Comments yet!