Who are Shannan McCrackin and Kenneth Swayne? Owners arrested after pit bulls fatally attack 65-year-old man in SC
BERKELEY COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: Shannan Christine McCrackin, 45, and Kenneth Howard Swayne, 44, are the owners of two pit bulls that mauled a 65-year-old man to death in Berkeley County, South Carolina.
They are facing criminal charges related to the deadly attack which the investigators say was preventable had the owners been responsible, True Crime Daily reports.
How was David Eller fatally attacked by the dogs?
According to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Tuesday, October 24, at a home on Ayers Drive.
The victim, David Eller, was attacked by two unprovoked pit bulls that were not “contained properly.”
Medical personnel performed lifesaving measures on Eller, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post that McCrackin and Swayne were arrested and charged in connection with the attack.
Shannan McCrackin also faces one count of involuntary manslaughter
McCrackin faces one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of dangerous animals unconfined on premises while Swayne faces two counts of dangerous animals unconfined on premises.
McCrackin remains held on $45,000 bond and Swayne remains held on $20,000 bond, records show, True Crime daily reported.
Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said in a statement, “This was a vicious attack on an unsuspecting victim and this should have never occurred.”
He added, “If the owner of the dogs would have taken the proper responsibility for the safe keeping of the animals, the attack could have been prevented.”
People said dog owners must face full punishment
The post received hundreds of comments from people who expressed their condolences to the victim’s family and their anger at the dog owners.
“Punish to the fullest extent of the law” wrote one Facebook user on Berkeley County Sheriff's Office's post.
“Those dogs scare me and I don’t like being around them. I don’t hate them, just uncomfortable around them," another one wrote.
A third user wrote, “Well done Berk! Shame that people do not contain their animals properly. My prayers are with the victim’s family.”
One more wrote, “I pray for the victims family. This is horrible. This definitely could have prevented but no one wants to do the right things anymore. We had a full blood pit bull but she wasn’t vicious. It’s how they are raised and taught.”
One user asked, "My question is why is she the only one charged with involuntary manslaughter? Shouldn’t both be charged? They both co owners of the dogs so both should face manslaughter charges.”