HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE -- The husband of a Hot Springs Village woman who was mauled to death while on a morning walk last year said he has some closure after the dog's owners were convicted and sentenced in Saline County Circuit Court late Wednesday night.
Emily Coy, 25, was convicted of unlawful dog attack and sentenced to 120 days in jail and one year of probation. Her mother, Brande Coy, 50, was convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to 60 days in jail and one year of probation. Both were also fined $2,500.
Both were living in the Saline County portion of Hot Springs Village at the time of the incident on Nov. 21, 2013, in which the dog, a pit bull-mastiff mix owned by Emily Coy, attacked and fatally mauled Joan Kappen, 75. The jury convicted the two shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, and the sentence was announced about two hours later, according to the Saline County prosecutor's office. The case was prosecuted by Rebecca Bush.
"The verdict was absolutely correct, and I appreciate the jurors for making that decision so quickly. The evidence proved they were guilty. I am a Christian man, and after the trial, I went over to them and told them I hope God helps get them through this turmoil. In regard to the trial, the prosecutors did a wonderful job in presenting the case properly. The jury selection was thorough," Hans Kappan told The Sentinel-Record on Thursday.
Kappen was at the trial from the beginning. He said he has some closure with the verdict and punishment, but he is still working to promote awareness of what he deems to be a nationwide problem.
Joan Kappen was taking her morning walk in her Hot Springs Village neighborhood when she was attacked by the dog. Brande Coy was watching her daughter's dog that morning, and had let the dog outside without a leash, and it attacked Kappen and mauled her to death. The dog was captured by Hot Springs Village Animal Control and later euthanized.
The prosecution presented evidence throughout the two-day trial that the dog bit other people before the attack and came from the same litter as a dog that killed a young boy in Jessieville a few months earlier.
The incident led to an organized movement in Hot Springs Village to establish a strong leash law within the community, which required the passage of separate ordinances by the quorum courts of both Garland and Saline counties.
A number of residents, including Kappen, petitioned the Hot Springs Village Property Owners' Association Board of Directors, through emails, phone calls and in public at board meetings, to take action before another incident could occur.
Village Police Chief Gary Adams, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager David Twiggs, Board President Keith Keck and POA Attorney Don Schnipper worked closely with justices of the peace in Garland and Saline counties in the weeks following the attack to adapt a leash law ordinance specific to the Village. In December, both quorum courts approved the proposed ordinances sent to them by Schnipper after some requested revisions.
Since losing his wife, Kappan said he has spent the last 10 months traveling across the nation, collecting data on fatal dog attacks and promoting the cause that proper leash laws should be in place.
"It is a national problem. Many people have been killed nationwide by big, vicious dogs. I will continue to work to make people aware of this and to keep as many people as safe as possible," Kappan said.
Local on 10/10/2014