Introduction
On Halloween night in 2022, a tragic dog attack occurred in a home in Spokane, Washington. The incident involved a family’s pit bull attacking a young child. Initial local reports stated that a 4-year-old boy was killed in the attack. However, conflicting information has since emerged about whether a child was actually killed that night.
There are discrepancies between early local news reports and statements from authorities regarding the facts of the incident and any fatalities. This has led to misinformation and speculation spreading online about the details and victims of the dog attack. Examining the available evidence can help determine what actually transpired that night in Spokane.
Details of the Dog Attack
The fatal dog attack occurred on the morning of December 14th 2022 in a field near Minnehaha Park in northeast Spokane (https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/documents-new-details-investigation-woman-found-dead-northeast-spokane/293-64c94397-c78f-4291-8175-d5bc405f0ee0).
The dog involved was a pit bull mix that the victim, 65-year-old Carol Streit, had adopted from SpokAnimal CARE. There were no other dogs present during the attack (https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/dec/15/no-bite-history-for-dog-suspected-to-have-killed-6/).
There was only one victim, Carol Streit. The attack resulted in her death.
Initial Reports of a Child’s Death
Early reports from local news outlets indicated that a child had been killed in the dog attack. An article published by KHQ on November 1st stated, “Spokane police have confirmed that the child attacked by a dog yesterday evening has died from their life-threatening injuries” (source).
Similarly, the Spokane Police Department announced in a November 1st press release, “On 10-31-23, just after 8PM, SPD responded to the report of an animal attack at a residence in the 900 block of E Walton Ave. Officers arrived and discovered a deceased juvenile victim who had been attacked by the family dog” (source).
These initial reports stated as fact that a child had died from the dog attack, though subsequent reports would clarify that the victim was not a child.
Conflicting Information Emerges
Shortly after initial reports stated that a child had been killed in the dog attack, authorities began to deny these early accounts. Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl released an official statement the day after the attack saying, “Despite earlier information, we can confirm that no child was killed last night as a result of the dog attack” (KREM 2 News). Meidl explained that first responders on the scene believed a child had died, but this turned out to be inaccurate.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office also put out a press release stating, “No child fatality occurred relating to the dog mauling incident” (KHQ News). They stressed that while serious injuries resulted, no child had actually died in the attack.
Examining the Misinformation
The rumor of a child being killed in the dog attack appears to have originated from initial confusion at the scene. When first responders arrived, they found 4-year-old Colton Kline injured after being mauled by the family’s dog. In the chaotic aftermath, there were mistaken reports that the child had died from his injuries. This tragic assumption quickly spread on social media before official confirmation could be provided.
According to a report on Reddit, some neighbors may have overheard first responders saying the boy was deceased [1]. This hearsay seems to have perpetuated the rumor, which was then shared widely on Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, local reporter Amy Smith tweeted that a child had been killed based on what she heard from police scanners and sources on scene. However, this was inaccurate information that unfortunately spread rapidly online before being corrected.
In today’s digital age, misinformation can proliferate instantaneously through social platforms and people re-sharing without verification. This case underscores the importance of waiting for official statements, not making assumptions, and checking sources before believing or spreading potential misinformation online.
Impact of the Misinformation
The false claim that a child was killed in the dog attack spread rapidly on social media shortly after the incident occurred. Many local residents shared the misinformation on Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor, likely in an attempt to raise awareness about a perceived threat to public safety.
According to an article on KREM.com, the false information “went viral locally before police could confirm facts.” (KREM) This caused undue public alarm and fear over a non-existent fatality. Many expressed outrage on social media over the purported death of a child.
Once official statements clarified that no child had been killed, there was both relief and frustration that misinformation had spread so rapidly. The local police department used it as a teaching moment, posting on social media “to remind the public of the dangers of spreading misinformation from unofficial sources before facts are confirmed and verified.”
The incident highlighted how false claims can proliferate quickly online before being verified. It demonstrated the need for caution about reposting unconfirmed reports, as well as checking sources before believing or spreading potential misinformation.
Profile of Actual Victims
65-year-old Carol Streit was the victim who tragically lost her life in this incident. Streit was found dead in a field east of Spokane after being mauled by her recently adopted pit bull mix dog. Authorities reported that Streit suffered severe injuries consistent with a dog attack.
According to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s office, Streit’s cause and manner of death were pending further investigation. However, the injuries she sustained pointed to her pit bull mix as being responsible for the deadly attack. Streit lived alone and had adopted the dog from SCRAPS just weeks earlier.
While early incorrect reports stated a child was killed in the attack, authorities confirmed no children were involved. The only victim was Carol Streit, whose death shocked the local community. Friends described her as an animal lover excited to welcome a new dog into her home. The source of the inaccurate information about a child victim remains unclear.
History of Dog Attacks
Serious and fatal dog attacks are a concern across the United States. According to U.S. Dog Bite Statistics, dog bites and attacks accounted for tens of thousands of injuries each year. From 2005 to 2020, there were an average of 35 fatal dog attacks per year, with the number ranging from a low of 31 deaths in 2011 to a high of 48 deaths in 2020.
In the Pacific Northwest where the Spokane attack occurred, fatal dog attacks are less common but still a risk. According to DogsBite.org, there were 9 fatal dog attacks in Washington state from 2005-2017. Oregon saw 5 fatal dog attacks during the same period. Though less frequent than nationwide, these regional statistics show that serious and fatal dog attacks do occur in the area.
Many factors influence the risk and damage of dog attacks, including breed tendencies, training, socialization, supervision, reproductive status, territorial contexts, and more. While pit bulls and pit bull mixes are responsible for the majority of serious attacks, no breed is inherently dangerous with proper precautions and care. Ultimately, dog attacks result from a combination of genetic, environmental and situational variables.
Preventing Future Attacks
Experts agree that most dog bites are preventable through education, training, and proper precautions. There are several things that can be done to avoid similar incidents in the future:
According to the AVMA, some tips for preventing dog bites include: supervising children interactions with dogs, teaching children basic safety around dogs, neutering dogs, properly socializing and training dogs, and educating owners about responsible dog ownership.
Richard Polsky, a dog bite expert witness, recommends the following prevention strategies in his research: avoiding approaching unknown dogs, not hugging or kissing dogs, and learning to read dog body language to recognize signs of fear or aggression.
Public education campaigns can help teach people how to act safely around dogs and prevent dog bites. Communities can organize events during National Dog Bite Prevention Week to spread awareness.
Finally, stronger regulations around dangerous dogs, muzzling aggressive dogs in public, and reporting dog bites to authorities can also help reduce risk and hold irresponsible owners accountable.
Conclusion
The widespread rumor that a child was killed in this dog attack in Spokane underscores how quickly misinformation can spread online. While tragic, the actual victims were two adult males who were severely injured by the dogs. Despite some initial local media reports that cited the death of a child, police and animal control sources have definitively confirmed these reports were false.
This unfortunate situation reveals how vital it is to verify information before sharing it online, no matter how trustworthy the source seems. While the intentions were likely good, those who shared the rumor about a child fatality caused undue distress for the community. It also shows how false information can obscure key facts, diverting attention away from the actual victims.
This event is a reminder that we all have a responsibility to avoid spreading misinformation. When a crisis occurs, it is important to wait for details from authoritative sources before drawing conclusions. Though scary and heartbreaking events will continue to happen, we can avoid inflaming the tragedy with unverified rumors. If we take care to verify before sharing during emergencies, it will help limit the spread of misinformation and allow truth to emerge.