Southern California man charged with murder in fatal pit bull attack

Alex Donald Jackson was arrested today on a felony murder warrant after his pit bulls attacked and killed a Southern California woman as she jogged near her home.

On May 9 Jackson’s four pit bulls ferociously mauled a 63-year-old women, Pamela Maria Devitt, on her jog in the community of Littlerock according to Reuters. Authorities reported that a driver saw the attack and called 911, honking the horn in hopes to scare the dogs away. Shortly after an arriving deputy saw a single dog still attacking the runner and tried to chase it off, Lt. John Corina said. The dog ran off into the desert, then turned around and attacked the deputy, who took a shot at the animal before it ran off.When Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies were searching for pit bulls later, they arrested Jackson and also discovered a marijuana "grow operation" found at his home. Jackson, 29, was additionally arrested for this, and was held at a $1 million bail.

Lieutenant John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's homicide division revealed that eight dogs were seized at the time, and found neglected, vicious, and some covered in blood. Later, DNA tests confirmed this as the blood of Devitt and four of these dogs identified as her attackers.

Unfortunately for the defendant’s case, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Samantha MacDonald said three prior reports had been made to police regarding Jackson’s pit bulls.

According to Yahoo News, Devitts husband told KCAL-TV, "I do not blame the dogs. I don't blame pit bulls," Ben Devitt said. "I blame people who don't take responsibility for their animals." Little resentment for the dogs is left for his wife’s death, but he holds Jackson fully accountable for the negligence and behavior of his pit bulls.

Jackson is scheduled for arraignment tomorrow on the attack charges and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted at trial.