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| Brittany Cortez and her new husband, Jorge Cortez-Trinidad, just before the dog attack. |
NEW YORK -- A Denver bride’s wedding day turned into a nightmare after one of her guests unleashed a raging pit bull at the reception, mauling her and her new husband.
Alleged attacker Joel Nevarez, 31, was on the run from police Saturday after the incident, and authorities believe he could have fled Colorado for Mexico, where he has family.
Bride Brittany Cortez, 22, said she has no idea what set off Nevarez, a long-time friend with a history of mental problems, during her wedding on Aug. 12.
“It was terrible, Cortez told KDEN. It made a beautiful party into something I’ll never forget.”
Cortez and her new husband, Jorge Cortez-Trinidad, were in the midst of celebrating when Nevarez briefly left the reception and returned with the pit bull.
“Sic her, sic her, Skylo” he allegedly shouted.
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| Joel Nevarez released his pit bull Skylo on bride Brittany Cortez during her wedding. |
The dog tore into the bride’s shoulders and back.
“Joel stood there with the leash in hand laughing. Laughing that the dog was biting me,” Cortez said.
The assault grew even more grisly when Nevarez allegedly began pummeling the bride with brass knuckles.
‘I begged and pleaded with him "Just stop ... Don’t do this, don’t do this"
As Cortez’s new husband tried to save her, the dog turned on him.
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| Brittany Cortez was attacked by a pit bull that tore into the bride’s shoulders and back. |
Nevarez’s family said they fear what he could do next.
“I'm sleeping with my gun next to my nightstand because I am scared to just wake up and he's standing next to the bed,” Nevarez's sister, Monica Nevarez-Coronado, told ABC7.
(NY Daily News - August 18, 2012)
