MICHIGAN -- A judge has signed a protective order for an 8-year-old dog-attack victim and his family, after the boy’s mother told a judge the owners of the dogs made threats against his life.
Ethan Nokes was attacked and mauled by four Rottweilers in his step-great-grandmother Frances Gifford’s yard in Seville Township last month, which is adjacent to his own property. The dogs, owned by Gifford and her son Louis Kelley, were determined to be dangerous and ordered to be euthanized after a court hearing.
On June 2, Gratiot County Animal Control officers euthanized the dogs then brought them home to be buried. State Trooper Tim Cruttenden accompanied animal control.
In a handwritten statement to the court asking for protection, Nokes’ mother, Doris Gifford, said Frances Gifford and Kelley began threatening her family the day the dogs were buried.
Doris Gifford said Kelley yelled, “My dogs are dead because of your little bastard and I’ll kill you both,” according to court records.
“Louis and Fran were screaming across the yard, telling my children to come watch the dog be buried and that it was their fault,” Doris Gifford wrote in court documents. “Louis screamed across the yard at Ethan that (Kelley is) going to kill himself and Ethan should be happy because he caused all this trouble and he should watch.”
After police and animal control left the property, Doris Gifford said Frances Gifford drove her car into Doris’ driveway, raised her middle finger in an obscene gesture, yelled obscenities and drove away, according to court records.
Doris Gifford said she gathered up her children and drove a mile to the county line, where she knew Trooper Cruttenden was sitting in his patrol car.
“(Cruttenden) told me to get out of there and get the kids somewhere safe,” Doris Gifford wrote in court documents.
Cruttenden said he returned to speak to Frances Gifford and Kelley.
“(Frances Gifford) admitted to the gesture, but denied the threat,” Cruttenden said.
Once his report of the incident is complete it will be turned over to the prosecutor, who will decide if any charges will be filed.
Cruttenden said while he was on the property the dog owners were clearly upset, but he himself didn’t hear any direct threats.
“Louis was yelling toward Ethan’s house. He was emotional, but didn’t make threats that I heard during the burial,” Cruttenden said.
Gratiot County Circuit Judge Michelle Rick signed personal protection orders on behalf of Ethan Nokes, his mother and “her minor children,” against Frances Gifford and Kelley on June 3, one day after the dogs were buried.
The orders prohibit both dog owners from being within sight or within 500 feet of Nokes, Doris Gifford or her other children.
It also states Frances Gifford and Kelley cannot communicate with Nokes or the other petitioners in any way, including through telephone, email or internet posting.
Doris Gifford said she, her husband and their children haven’t stayed in their own home since the day the dogs were buried. The family is split each night between two other family members’ homes, children at one, parents at the other.
"Emotionally it’s terrifying,” she said. “Ethan can’t sleep. He’s traumatized. He cries every night.”
Doris Gifford’s mother, Rose Patch, said she’s exploring online kick starters like gofundme.com to raise money for a privacy fence for the family so they can “feel safe” at home.
"It’s hard, it’s torn us apart. For our kids, this isn’t normal,” Doris Gifford said. ”They were our family, it’s ridiculous."
Francis Gifford and Kelley could not immediately be reached for comment.
(The Morning Sun - Jun 10, 2015)
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