Introduction
On October 17, 2022, a tragic event occurred in Memphis, Tennessee when a 21-month-old toddler, Lillian Schappaugh, was killed by two family pit bulls. The young girl was brutally attacked in the backyard of her home in the 3500 block of Southern Avenue in South Memphis. Despite the best efforts of first responders and medical staff, Lillian succumbed to her extensive injuries later that evening.
The death of such a young child in this horrific manner shocked the Memphis community and raised concerns over dog attacks, ownership of certain dog breeds, and supervision around family pets. This incident also highlighted the dangers of leaving small children unattended, even briefly, around large, powerful dogs. As authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding Lillian’s death, heartbroken family and friends were left trying to make sense of this tragedy.
The Victim
The victim was 5-month-old Hollace Dean Bennard from Shelbyville, Tennessee. Hollace was tragically killed in the attack along with her 2-year-old brother, Lillie.
The children lived with their mother, Kirstie Jane Bennard, on their family’s property in Shelbyville. On October 5, 2022, Hollace was mauled to death by the family’s two pit bulls along with her brother Lillie while their mother desperately tried to intervene and save them.
Hollace was only 5 months old at the time of the fatal dog attack that claimed her life. The infant girl suffered traumatic injuries and did not survive despite emergency responders’ life-saving efforts.
The Location
The tragic dog attack occurred at a home in the town of Collierville, Tennessee, located in Shelby County just outside of Memphis. According to local news reports, the incident took place in the 3500 block of Bedford Court in the Saddle Creek subdivision of Collierville https://www.wate.com/news/tennessee/10-year-old-attacked-by-dogs-in-tn/. The neighborhood where the attack happened is described as a quiet residential area. Collierville is known as an affluent Memphis suburb with a population of around 50,000 people. The location of the deadly dog mauling has shocked local residents who say severe dog attacks are highly unusual for their community.
The Dogs
The dogs involved in the fatal attack were two family pets – a mixed breed pit bull terrier and a mixed breed boxer. According to the victim’s grandfather, the pit bull terrier was around 2-years-old and the boxer was approximately 5-years-old (Source). The dogs belonged to the victim’s uncle, Austin Nace, who had recently obtained the pit bull just three weeks prior to the attack (Source). Nace was housing the toddler and her mother in his home at the time. According to neighbors, Nace had been attempting to breed the two dogs (Source).
The Attack
On October 5, 2022, the two young children, Hollace Dean, 2, and Lilly Jane, 5 months, were in the backyard of their family’s home in the 700 block of S. Edgewood Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee with their mother, Kirstie Jane Bennard. Bennard was taking her children out to play in the yard that afternoon. Without warning, the family’s two pit bulls suddenly attacked the children and began mauling them brutally for an extended period of time.
According to reports, the vicious mauling lasted approximately 10 minutes before anyone could intervene and stop the attack. Neighbors heard the commotion and rushed outside when they heard Kirstie Bennard screaming. They found the bloody scene of the two young kids being mauled by the aggressive dogs. The neighbors quickly retrieved their guns and began shooting at the pit bulls in order to stop the prolonged attack on the helpless toddlers.
Once the dogs were scared off, the neighbors immediately called 911 for emergency medical assistance. First responders arrived and rushed Hollace Dean and Lilly Jane to the hospital, but it was too late. The extensive bite injuries and trauma they endured proved to be fatal. Both children were pronounced dead at the hospital. Their mother, Kirstie Bennard, was also transported for emergency medical treatment for injuries sustained in her attempts to stop the pit bulls from attacking her kids.
Emergency Response
Police and emergency medical services were dispatched to the scene after receiving a 911 call reporting the attack (Disaster Animal Response Teams). Upon arrival, first responders found the toddler, later identified as 2-year-old Kinzleigh Reeder, with severe injuries after being mauled by the family’s two rottweilers. The young girl was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, but tragically did not survive.
According to reports, the child suffered extensive bite wounds over her entire body. Despite lifesaving efforts by paramedics and hospital staff, the injuries were too severe and the victim was pronounced dead at the hospital (Reporting Dog Bites to Animal Control in Tennessee). Authorities said the toddler’s death appeared to be a tragic accident, with no signs of abuse or neglect by the family.
Aftermath
The toddler, one-year-old Hollace Dean Bennard, was killed in the attack. She suffered extensive injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The child’s five-year-old brother was also attacked and transported to Le Bonheur’s Children’s Hospital in critical condition, where he later died from his injuries, according to the sheriff’s office (Source 1). Their mother, Kirstie Jane Bennard, was severely injured trying to protect her children and was transported to Regional One Health in Memphis in stable condition.
The sheriff’s office launched an investigation into the deadly attack, classifying it as a homicide case. Authorities planned to perform autopsies on the children. Investigators said the family had owned the two pit bulls for a number of years without incident. The dogs were euthanized following the attack at the request of the family.
Community Reaction
The death of the toddler shocked and saddened the close-knit community of Tallassee, Alabama. Neighbors described the victim as a “happy, friendly child” who loved to play outside (1).
The mayor of Tallassee, Johnny Hammock, said the town was mourning the loss of the toddler. “This is an unimaginable tragedy, and our hearts go out to the family. No one should ever have to experience such a horrific incident,” Hammock said in a statement (1).
Other officials also expressed their condolences. The district attorney said counselors would be made available at the local school for any children affected by the tragedy (2). The chief of police said the department was providing support to the family during this difficult time.
“Our whole community feels this loss,” said a neighbor interviewed near the scene. “People here care about their neighbors, and when a child dies, we all grieve.”
Many residents called for stricter regulation of dangerous dog breeds following the fatal mauling. Others argued owners should be held more accountable for properly restraining and controlling their pets.
Sources:
(1) https://www.wsfa.com/story/24846229/dog-attack-survivor-reacts-to-death-of-child-in-tallassee/
(2) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/5-year-old-boy-killed-in-dog-attack-on-northern-first-nation-1.6774194
Preventing Future Attacks
There are several ways to improve safety around dogs and help prevent tragic attacks like this in the future. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), it’s important to never pet a dog without asking permission first. Both children and adults should get verbal consent from the owner before interacting with their dog. It’s also wise not to run past an unfamiliar dog or make lots of noise around them, which can trigger a chase response.
Parents should teach children safe behavior around dogs, like being gentle and not teasing. As KidsHealth advises, kids should never squeeze, drop, or jump on dogs. They also shouldn’t bother dogs while eating or pull their tails and ears. Any interaction should be calmly supervised by an adult who knows the dog well.
In many cases, tragedy can be avoided by proper training and socializing of dogs from puppyhood, as well as responsible ownership. Owners need to be alert to any aggressive tendencies and take precautions like leashing, muzzling, or confining dogs when children are present.
Conclusion
In summary, this tragic incident involving the mauling death of a toddler highlights the potential dangers of leaving young children unsupervised around certain dog breeds. While the exact circumstances that led to the attack remain unclear, the loss of an innocent child is heartbreaking. This incident serves as an important reminder for all families to take precautions and properly train and socialize their dogs, especially larger and stronger breeds. Though nothing can undo this tragedy, hopefully the community can come together to support the grieving family and work to prevent similar attacks in the future through education and safe pet ownership practices.
The death of any child is difficult to comprehend, but losing a toddler in such a sudden and violent manner is particularly devastating. Our hearts go out to all those affected. May this young soul rest in peace and may the family find solace in fond memories and the support of their community during this incredibly painful time.