Man killed in dog attack at Ving Rhames home

[Laurent]

Man killed in dog attack at actor's home
By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES - A 40-year-old man was mauled to death by as many as four dogs at the home of Ving Rhames on Friday, authorities said.

The victim, who hasn't been identified, had worked at the actor's home for about two years and was responsible for caring for the dogs, said Los Angeles Police officer Sandra Gonzalez.

Four mastiffs were seized by animal services, she said.

Police got a call at 7:15 a.m. from someone reporting a dead body at the home. Gonzalez didn't know who made the call.

The victim was found on the front lawn, she said.

Rhames, 46, who appeared in the "Mission Impossible" series of films, wasn't at home when the attack occurred, she said.

Man killed in dog attack at actor's home - Yahoo! News

[yoyoma]

Why oh why do people turn their dogs into such monsters for?
I wonder what happened that he didn't get any help when attacked by the dogs.

[texlux]

I guess there is a possiblity that the man might have been dead (heartattack, perhaps?) before the dogs bit him and they are doing an investigation. I guess the dogs had never been a problem before.

[Novice]

Victim of Dog Bite May Have Had Heart Attack

Posted Aug 3rd 2007 5:31PM by TMZ Staff
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Police tell TMZ that the victim of the dog attack at Ving Rhames' home could have had a heart attack, since none of the wounds -- on his face and neck only -- appear to have been life threatening. They speculate that he was possibly running for his life after a confrontation with the dogs. TMZ has learned the 40-year-old caretaker lived at the house and had been an employee of the actor for two years. Tragically, police say the man fed and cared for the animals on a daily basis.

A total of four dogs were taken away by Animal Control; three Bull Mastiffs each weighing 160-190 lbs. and one English Bulldog weighing 100-150 lbs. The property contains two connected houses, both owned by Rhames. According to police, the dogs -- including nine puppies -- all live in one house.

In a press conference today, a police spokesman said the victim appears to have jumped the fence to try to get away from the dogs, and died sometime early this morning. We're told there are additional dogs on property, but they do not roam free. The dogs that attacked had access to the front of the house.

Cops say the dogs are very friendly, and as we reported, police are not aware of any previous problems. They do not anticipate charging Rhames with a crime, as this appears to have been a "pure accident." The animals have been quarantined and will be held over the weekend at an undisclosed shelter. Blood samples will be taken to determine if they have rabies or other dangerous diseases.

We're told Ving is on location out of country.
TMZ.com

[curlysem]

maybe the dogs were hungry and began to eat the dead body. strange, a mastiff, and a bull dog would attack the caretaker.

[sweetrebel]

^I thought the same thing. He fed and cared for the dogs for 2 years and suddenly they turn on him?
Are mastiffs even agressive? I mean, I am sure any dog could become agressive if they were hurt repeatedly, but...

[turtlex]

Originally Posted by sweetrebel

^I thought the same thing. He fed and cared for the dogs for 2 years and suddenly they turn on him?
Are mastiffs even agressive? I mean, I am sure any dog could become agressive if they were hurt repeatedly, but...

Mastiff's aren't normally agressive, nor are English Bulls. Think big, lazy, and downright jolly-stupid.

Most dogs, acting on pure instinct alone, will attack or gnaw at a wounded or dead packmate (I've seen this in person; once, a dog of mine was gravely injured and my other dogs began snapping at him - and they'd been a pack for over a decade).

My guess is this is what happened: Their handler (AKA Alpha Male of the pack) had a heart attack, fell, and the dogs acted as they would naturally.

FWIW the English bull is probably faultless here - their jaws simply don't open wide enough to do any significant damage (great dogs, too, I highly recommend them). The Mastiffs, meanwhile, have sharper, longer teeth.

[lisalucy69]

This doesn't sound like the dogs killed him, I hope nothing terrible happens to the dogs.

[MrsMarsters]

People are going to assume the worse..I'm confused were they attack dogs? I don't think I read that..but I heard someone mention it?They can easily tell if he had a heart attack and died..before he was bit..in a few days..I'm sure.

[Moongirl]

Update:

MSNBC.com


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Coroner: Ving Rhames' dogs didn't kill man
Cause of death still unknown, but medical examiner says bites weren't fatal
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:50 p.m. PT Aug 17, 2007
LOS ANGELES - A man who died at the home of action star Ving Rhames most likely did not die from bites from Rhames’ dogs, county coroner’s officials said Friday.

Jacob Adams, 40, was living on Rhames’ Brentwood property as a caretaker for the actor’s dogs when he was bitten Aug. 3, police said.

The medical examiner who conducted Adams’ autopsy Aug. 7 said the bite abrasions and lacerations on the man’s body were most likely nonfatal, said Capt. Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

“We’re not saying the bites were definitely not the cause of death, though,” Winter told The Associated Press.

An exact cause of death was still unknown pending a toxicology report to be released in about six weeks, he said.

According to a preliminary coroner’s report, the dog bite marks on Adams’ body — which police officers found on Rhames’ front lawn — were around his arms and legs.

“When animals attack humans or other animals, the victims usually end up with bites around the head and neck. He had none,” Winter said. “This leads us to believe he went down for some other medical reason.”

An English bulldog and three bull mastiffs, including two weighing 200 pounds, were seized by animal services at the time.

Rhames, 46, told People magazine this week that his dogs were back home.

In a statement dated Monday, issued by his publicist, Rhames said he was out of the country when the incident took place.

Rhames also mentioned he was “relieved to know that the coroner’s report confirmed that my dogs were not the cause of his death — and that any wounds found on his body were superficial.”

And, he added, “Jacob Adams was not just a devoted employee — he was also a dear friend. I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to his family.”

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: Coroner: Ving Rhames' dogs didn't kill man - Celebrity News - MSNBC.com


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© 2007 MSNBC.com

[FierceKiten]

Actor Ving Rhames is finally speaking out in defense of his dogs whom were accused of mauling his caretaker to death last month. The autopsy revealed that the dog bites on the victim, actor and screenwriter Jacob Adams, were superficial and he may have died from heart failure.

“I was out of the country when this shocking and terrible tragedy occurred on my property. Jacob Adams was not just a devoted employee, he was also a dear friend. I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to his family. I am relieved to know that the coroner’s report confirmed that my dogs were not the cause of his death—and that any wounds found on his body were superficial.

I would appreciate the media’s privacy for me and my family during this difficult time.”

Now that the dogs have been cleared, Animal Services will probably return the 200 pounds dogs back to Rhames. I’m sure the wifey will probably want to settle for a poodle.

Source Bossip.com

[abbyroadme]

Wow...never understood why people turn innocent dogs into beasts like that. So wrong.

[gardenofeve]

Honestly, it seemed really strange when I heard it, that those dogs would attack, two of them were Old English Mastiffs, they're not known for their aggression. I'll probably get one after my Newfoundland passes on...hopefully many years to come. One was an English Bulldog (again, very low aggression breed) and the dog fancy jury is still out on the fourth. But if the man (who is from my area) died of other causes, I think he should get the dogs back.

[Honey]

Originally Posted by abbyroadme

Wow...never understood why people turn innocent dogs into beasts like that. So wrong.

But he didn't!

[abbyroadme]

Originally Posted by Honey

But he didn't!

I though he did by tortuing them and causing the dog to change additude.