Daughter Charged After Her 76 Year-old Father With Dementia Is Killed In Pit Bull Attack At Family Home

A female has been charged pinch manslaughter aft her pit bull mauled her 76-year-old begetter to decease successful Vermont.

Stephen Campbell, who suffered from dementia, was attacked by nan canine astatine his girl Janna Campbell’s location successful Essex Town. Authorities said nan animal had a history of convulsive behaviour, having injured a number of different group successful erstwhile incidents.

Essex Police Department officers raced to nan segment astatine astir 3.20 p.m. connected March 10, on pinch responders from Essex Rescue and nan Essex Town Fire Department.

Police said nan 43 year-old girl had managed to extremity nan onslaught and secured her dog, named Jack, but it was excessively late. ​The aged unfortunate had sustained terrible injuries and he was pronounced dormant astatine nan scene. ​

The pit bull has since been put down aft nan proprietor surrendered nan animal to authorities.

Police said Jack was nan taxable of an Essex Town Selectboard proceeding successful January, having attacked a deliveryman and inflicted terrible injuries. ​

Campbell was ordered to return action, including confining nan canine erstwhile nonresidents came to her location and attending training for some her and Jack. She was besides instructed to put up signage informing astir nan dog. ​Police said nan proprietor had complied pinch nan Selectboard’s orders. ​

But this was not an isolated incident, according to tribunal documents obtained by WCAX, which said Jack had besides attacked a location wellness worker. ​

The elder Campbell was surviving pinch his girl and had struck nan canine pinch a footwear earlier nan fatal attack, nan documents said.

“The Essex Police and Vermont Office of nan main aesculapian examiner person completed nan decease investigation of Stephen Campbell (76) who had been attacked by his girl Janna Campbell’s pet dog, “Jack” connected March 10, 2026,” main of constabulary Ron Hoague said successful a statement.

“Further investigation revealed Jack had a known shape of convulsive behaviour and had injured respective others anterior to causing nan decease of Mr Campbell.

“Essex Police, pinch guidance from nan Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office, person arrested Janna Campbell (43) from Essex, Vermont. Janna was processed and released pinch a flash citation to look astatine Chittenden County Superior Court, Criminal Division connected June 16, 2026, to reply to nan charges of Manslaughter and Reckless Endangerment.”

Following her tribunal quality this week, Campbell was released connected nan information that she not ain aliases attraction for immoderate caller dogs and is owed to return successful precocious August, WCAX reported. If convicted, she could look up to 15 years down bars.

Her attorney Sandra Lee stressed her customer has been trying to power nan dog.

​“We person a canine whose shown aggression and a canine proprietor who has done nan champion she tin to woody pinch that situation,” Lee told WCAX. ​