LITTLEROCK – A 29-year-old Littlerock man has been charged with murder in connection with a brutal dog attack earlier this month that killed 63-year-old Pamela Devitt.
Alex Jackson was arrested early this morning at his home in the 37300 Block of 115th Street East and booked at the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station with bail set at $1,050,000. Jackson is the owner of four pit bulls, which DNA tests have linked to the deadly dog attack on May 9. An autopsy revealed that Devitt sustained about 150-200 puncture wounds and died of “sharp force trauma.”
The following is the press report from the Sheriff’s Headquarters’ Bureau:
“On Thursday, May 9, 2013 at approximately 9:30 a.m., Pamela Devitt was walking in the desert by her Littlerock home when she was suddenly attacked by a pack of four pit bulls.
A passerby saw the dogs mauling the victim and called 9-1-1. When a deputy arrived on scene, he saw there was a pit bull still engaged in attacking the victim. The deputy was able to chase the dog away and summoned paramedics who were in the process of transporting and treating the victim when she succumbed to her injuries.
During their investigation, homicide investigators recovered eight dogs, six pit bulls and two mixed breeds, from the Littlerock home of Alex Jackson. Four of the pit bulls were believed to be involved in the attack. Further examination of the pit bulls revealed they had what appeared to be blood on their coats and muzzles.
On May 11, 2013, an examination by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office was conducted on victim Pamela Devitt to determine her cause of death. According to the Coroner’s Office, the cause of death was blood loss attributed to sharp force trauma. The sharp force trauma was caused by the dog attack where the victim sustained approximately 150-200 puncture wounds.
DNA tests were conducted on the blood found on the pit bulls and those tests revealed that the blood on the dogs belonged to the victim, Pamela Devitt.
The case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, and on May 29, 2013, the District Attorney filed charges of murder on 29 year-old Alex Jackson, who is the owner of the dogs. On May 30, 2013, suspect Jackson was arrested at his residence and booked at Palmdale Sheriff’s Station for Murder. His bail is set at $1,050,000.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Lieutenant Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477″.
UPDATED 5/31/13: ARRAIGNMENT POSTPONED FOR ALEX JACKSON
Alex Jackson appeared in an Antelope Valley courtroom on Friday (May 31), but he did not enter a plea. His arraignment was postponed to June 14. Jackson is charged with second degree murder, cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, possession for sale of a controlled substance and assault with a deadly weapon.
The drug charges stem from a marijuana grow that authorities discovered when they searched Jackson’s home on the day of the fatal mauling (Read more here). The assault with a deadly weapon charge is connected to an incident that occurred in January. A horse rider claims his horse was attacked by Jackson’s dogs while they were riding past Jackson’s residence. Jackson is accused of throwing a rock at the man.
Jackson remains jailed on $1,050,000 bail.
UPDATED 8/20/13: After a preliminary hearing that included two days of graphic testimony by 12 witnesses, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled there was enough evidence for Alex Jackson to stand trial for the murder of Pamela Devitt. The ruling came down on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. Jackson is due back in court on Sept. 5 for a second arraignment. He remains jailed on 1,050,000 bail.
Previous related stories:
Victim ID’d in fatal mauling, fate of captured dogs uncertain
CA Resident says
You cant carry a firearm openly and concealed carry permits are impossible to get in LA county; this states legislature has dearmed its populace. I would like to hear how she was supposed to protect herself.
Its sad to see because i really like CA but its starting to reach a point now where it is not practical to defend your life or personal property…. and you better think twice about using your firearm if someone kicks your door in…. it is very possible that you could end up in jail.
I agree with the original comment about the book being thrown if she defended herself. If she was carrying a gun and defended herself she would be in jail.
sikntired says
But she would be alive and probably low or no bail ;
;if someone kicks your door in I think you’re covered.
Raptormann says
Sometimes you have to make the determination whether you would rather be tried by 12 or carried by 6. We cannot rely on the government to protect us and if they did have that power and ability, I don’t think we would like it. The US Supreme Court has ruled that the police have no obligation to protect you.
And the politicians in this state don’t want you protecting yourself.
On my walks with my dog I carry protection from the unforeseen idiot who lets their human or animal aggressive animal run loose. I got my permit because I have restraining orders in place against a known threat. I had to suffer life threatening injuries for the law to see my need for one. This is criminal on the part of LASD to leave citizens unarmed. It’s too late for Pamela Devitt.
sammy P says
Agreed – its VERY easy to end in jail if you have to hurt someone in defending yourself. Criminals never tell the truth when the police show up and LA county sheriffs don’t arrest people when they SHOULD arrest you – They arrest you when they CAN arrest you and then you have to wait in jail or make bail and deal with the legal system.
Rai says
I grew up in Lake LA and was attacked by dogs that broke out of their yards while walking my dog- twice. One of the times was by two large German Shepard, and I still feel lucky to have escaped that without injury. Too many people shouldn’t be pet owners. They spend more time with their televisions than their pets. I am saddened, but not surprised that this happened.
Tresco says
Too bad the county doesn’t think we are important up here. If she had shot the dogs when they attacked her they would sure have thrown the book at her and the owner would have sued her for all she was worth.
AVGirl says
Animals are generally seen as chattel, in other words they are seen as personal property with little intrinsic value. There have been cases where a judge has awarded far about the purchase value, but those are cases when a family pet was maliciously killed for no reason. If she had killed the dogs in self defense the owners would have no standing to sure her.
And a person has a right to defend themselves, so your comment about the courts throwing the book at her are inaccurate. You can shot a person in self defense, why would a dog garnish you punishment?
CA Resident says
Because you cant carry a gun openly in California now, and you can’t get a concealed carry permit in LA county. So explain that one?
AVGirl says
Because we talking hypothetical here. No she probably could not have carried a a gun in LA county, but the point is, my comment was directed at the post regarding her being sued, or arrested for killing the dogs. If she had used another weapon, say a branch laying around or if the person who called 911 had ran over the dog(s) with their car, neither would have faced any punishment because of the circumstances.
And it is not impossible to get a CCW, just very very very VERY hard to do in LA county. Kern County issues many more, so it is more of a county then a state wide problem.
Raptormann says
LASD needs to be ashamed to leave its citizens unprotected. SHAME on Leroy!
Jeez says
I can see how this should be a case of negligent manslaughter (someone dying because of his negligence), but I am not sure how it can be murder which I understood as being the killing of one person by another person.
sammy P says
They can charge you with whatever they want – but it will most likely be plea bargained down to manslaughter – He didn’t intend for anyone to die nor plan anyones death, he just stupidly let dangerous dogs run loose and will pay the price.
Yo Mama says
Here, here…
candy says
he had numerous complaints… these dogs were dangerous. he should get whatever they can throw at him.
Raptormann says
The very least he can face is reckless endangerment and if it can the shown that he should have, as any reasonable person would, he is guilty of at the minimum of involuntary manslaughter. If it can be shown that his intent was to breed and train the dogs for violent or fighting purposes, it becomes voluntary manslaughter. That’s Murder for those who live in Lake LA!
AVGirl says
“Malice in second degree murder may be implied from a death due to the reckless lack of concern for the life of others (such as firing a gun into a crowd or bashing someone with any deadly weapon). ”
The lack of control the suspect displayed by allowing his dogs to run free could fall under this. The dogs themselves would be the deadly weapon.
Notagain says
HOPE ALL YOU PIT BULL OWNERS THAT THINK YOUR BAD ASS WITH YOUR DAWGS THINK TWICE ABOUT HAVING LOOSE DOGS LIKE THAT!!! NOT THE DOGS FAULT!!! WELL MR JACKSON, YOUR GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF TIME IN JAIL!!!
J Odice says
Hope he gets whatever he deserves! He will have to spend the rest of his life living with his stupidity! Too bad they can’t just let those dogs tear him apart, it would be fitting punishment! Wonder what happened to the dogs?
sally says
good!
Momto2boys says
I’m scared to death of this happening to anyone I l
Desertmom says
People, treat your pets with love and they won’t grow up to be bad…So sorry to this ladies family, how awful it must of been for her. :'(
AVcares says
I agree, it is all the way the dogs are raised…pit bulls can be a great dog, like any other large dog, but the getto trash people that raise them to fight/guard the marijuana like he did, who just keep them tied up with no love or caring in their lives, they will turn mean….
NOT the dogs fault, its the human to blame.
I have had both a Rott and a Pitt over the years and they were great…never any problems. They were raised with love and care, and were with me until old age took them both.
So sorry for the family of the woman…this did not have to happen..
Hope he (Jackson)goes away for a long, long time and never allowed to own another dog.
Eryka says
It is not how you raise these dogs, sorry, that is only part. I had three, rainse in a loving home, with lots of attention. Two stayed good, one flipped out and turned very aggressinve over night! There are many factors with these dogs…first, they are an animal, one that has beed bred for centuries to fight. Notice I said HAD, I now chose tiny dogs.
Raptormann says
Dogs have 2 different types of behavior. Learned through training and breed behavior.
If you take 2 highly aggressive dogs and breed them together, they will have a higher propensity for aggression. We have multiple generations of Pits that have been bred for aggression and are dangerous even if they act like a sweetheart for a while,,, until the breed behavior comes into play. Example; the dog suddenly flipped out.
I know of some very sweet pits, but they were carefully bred for that trait. Rescues from the pound are playing Russian roulette.
sikntired says
Combine that with a huge bite radius, locking jaw and massive muscle structure.