Owner of dogs that mauled woman to death booked into jail

Antwon D. Burks

OKLAHOMA CITY – Antwon Demetris Burks, 31, the owner of two dogs that mauled a woman to death in northwest Oklahoma City, was booked into the Oklahoma County jail on Thursday and immediately released on $10,000 bail, according to a report published on NewsOK.com Thursday morning.

Oklahoma County prosecutors blame Burks for allowing the dogs to run at large or failing to take ordinary steps to confine them, which they said led to the fatal attack on Cecille Short, 82, and her dog, Taylor, on April 6.

Burks was charged with second-degree manslaughter, a criminal felony,  in Oklahoma County District Court on Wednesday and faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Police were sent to the 11600 block of Windmill Road last month after someone called and reported that the dogs, later identified by Animal Welfare officials as pit bull terriers, were attacking Short. Officers were unable to help Short as the dogs continued to attack, and they opened fire on the two dogs.

Short died at the scene. One of the dogs died at the scene and the other was taken to the Animal Welfare Center.

An investigation of Burks’ residence showed a large hole in the gate on the south side of the fence and that it appeared someone had attempted to cover the hole, but that it wasn’t “sufficient to keep two dogs of this size contained,” according to a court affidavit.

Burks, also known as Antwon D. Burks-Moore, is a former Ponca City resident.

He is represented by Jarrod Stevenson of Stevenson Law Firm in Oklahoma City