By Paige Nash
The Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Department has made four arrests and seized twenty-six dogs from 2747 Pine Street in Ringgold, in connection to the human remains discovered in a wooded area at the end of the street last Friday evening, October 27.
The remains were sent for forensic autopsy, but according to Bienville Parish Sheriff John Ballance there was enough evidence on scene to confirm that it was recently reported missing person, Donovan Brooks, 40, of Ringgold.
According to Ballance, a billfold was found on the scene in a pair of shorts near the remains that indicated that Brooks was the owner. Brooks is believed to have fallen victim to a gruesome dog attack which resulted in his death. This marks two attacks on Pine Street over the course of the last month.
A long list of interviews and questioning Monday evening and into the night, resulted in warrants for the arrest of Charlotte Hubbard, 77; Shawn Hubbard, 32; Gerald Miller, 51, on charges of negligent homicide and obstruction of justice; and Cameron Kelly, 21, for accessory after the fact. All were booked into the Bienville Parish Jail.
The Hubbard’s own the dogs that were responsible for the hospitalization of Davyta Gray, 30, of Ringgold, in late September after he was viciously attacked and now is believed to have possibly murdered Brooks who was discovered at the end of the Pine Street last week.
Following the attack on Gray that took place on Sept. 27, the dogs were to be placed under a 10-day quarantine at the residence and the owners were summoned to court.
It is believed now that Brooks was actually the first victim to suffer from an attack. He was reportedly last seen by his family on Sept. 26. Investigators have reason to believe that the remains have been there since that date.
According to Ballance, deputies along with two veterinarians and an animal control officer from Webster Parish arrived at the residence early Tuesday afternoon to make the arrests, armed with dart guns.
“We were going in there under the impression that these dogs were vicious,” said Ballance.
Nine large breed dogs, 17 small breeds and 4 puppies were seized from the property. They were transported to a holding facility until a judge decides their fate in the coming days.
Ballance said a large black trash bag, believed to contain the remains of a larger breed dog, was also discovered in the woods near the property.
Following the recent tragic events, Town of Ringgold Mayor Milton Vining is asking for continued prayers for the community and families affected. A community-wide prayer meeting is scheduled for Saturday, November 4 at 2:30 p.m. at the Ringgold Ball Park located across from the Town Hall.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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