These incidents highlight the severe risks of unrestrained or aggressive animals and the critical need for responsible pet ownership. Law enforcement in Galveston County and Houston have launched full investigations, analyzing evidence and gathering witness statements to understand these tragic events fully and enforce accountability. The affected communities are grappling with shock and grief over these unexpected fatalities.
The investigations are currently active, with authorities compiling facts and preparing for legal proceedings where applicable. The following details provide a comprehensive look into the initial reports, the tragic circumstances surrounding the victims’ deaths, and the immediate actions taken by law enforcement in the wake of these two distinct but equally harrowing events.
1.**Deputy’s Swift Action in Bacliff**Arriving on the scene, deputies were confronted with the horrifying reality of one dog still savagely latched onto the victim’s arm, relentlessly continuing the attack. Understanding the imminent and ongoing threat to Jesus Castillo’s life, a deputy made the difficult but necessary decision to intervene decisively. The deputy fired their firearm, hitting the dog in a critical effort to halt the savage assault and protect the gravely injured victim.
Following the gunshot, the aggressive dog finally released its grip on Castillo and retreated to a corner of the yard, mercifully ceasing its attack. This decisive intervention was deemed absolutely necessary by the responding law enforcement officers given the extreme and life-threatening circumstances. The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office later issued a statement acknowledging the immense difficulty of this decision, emphasizing that law enforcement officers are always reluctant to cause harm to an animal.
In a press release on Sunday, the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office stated: “Deputies never want to harm an animal, but in this case, immediate action was necessary in attempt to protect the victim’s life.” This statement highlighted the gravity of the situation and the immediate danger faced by Castillo, justifying the use of force to prevent further harm.
2. **Witness Account: Jesus Excontitta’s Attempt to Help**Jesus Excontitta, a neighbor of the victim, described hearing desperate cries for help originating from Castillo’s yard. Excontitta recounted the harrowing sounds, stating, “I heard him screaming, screaming, screaming, pleading, crying. I can still hear his voice.” These initial screams prompted Excontitta to investigate the disturbance.
Upon running outside, Excontitta discovered Castillo being attacked by both of his pit bulls. Excontitta described the scene vividly, noting, “The dog got him by the arm, and he’s crying for help, pleading for help.” This direct observation spurred the neighbor to attempt an intervention, despite the inherent danger.
Excontitta described jumping into action, retrieving a butcher knife to try and fight off one of the dogs. “One swing and boom,” Excontitta stated, describing hitting one dog across the face, which caused it to stop completely. When this tactic proved ineffective against the second dog, Excontitta ran back to get another knife and began stabbing the animal, but it still refused to release its grip on Castillo. Ultimately, Excontitta spotted a police officer and ran to wave them down for assistance.
3. **Victim Identification and Tragic Outcome: Jesus Castillo**The victim of the Bacliff dog attack was identified as 45-year-old Jesus Castillo. Following the deputy’s intervention, Castillo was transported to HCA Clear Lake hospital. CPR was in progress during the transport, indicating the severe nature of his injuries and the immediate medical efforts to save his life. Despite these efforts, Castillo was later confirmed deceased from the injuries sustained in the attack.
His neighbor, Jesus Excontitta, expressed profound shock and sadness over Castillo’s death. Excontitta noted the personal connection, stating, “That’s somebody we see every day. You don’t expect this to happen to, you know, somebody real close to you.” The sudden loss of a familiar face in the community left a lasting impact on those who knew him.
Excontitta also conveyed surprise regarding the attack, remarking that he believed Castillo took good care of his dogs. The unexpected nature of the incident compounded the tragedy for the community. “It’s just a horrible experience,” Excontitta reflected, expressing the difficulty of coming to terms with the fact that his last conversation with Castillo would indeed be their final one.
4. **Animal Control’s Role and Euthanization in Bacliff**Following the tragic incident in Bacliff, Galveston County Animal Control personnel were dispatched to the scene. Their role was critical in securing the animals involved in the fatal attack. Animal Control responded promptly and took custody of both pit bull dogs that had attacked Jesus Castillo.
The disposition of the animals was decided quickly due to the severity of the incident. Both dogs were euthanized by animal control on Monday, the day following the attack. This action is a standard procedure in cases where animals are involved in fatal attacks, especially when public safety is a primary concern and the animals have demonstrated extreme aggression.
Euthanization ensures that the animals cannot pose a threat to anyone else in the future. The process marks the final official action concerning the animals themselves, concluding their direct involvement in the tragic events that led to Castillo’s death. The investigation, however, continues to gather all relevant facts surrounding the incident.
5. **The Houston Attack: Harriette Phillips’ Fatal Mauling**A separate and equally devastating dog attack occurred in Houston, Texas, on March 23, 2025. This incident involved 65-year-old Harriette Phillips, who was fatally mauled by three Staffordshire mixes belonging to her neighbor, Marshall Garrett. The attack unfolded in Phillips’ backyard, highlighting a failure in animal containment.
According to official court documents, it was reported that the dogs “appeared that the defendant’s dogs had broken through her fence” and entered Phillips’ property. This breach of the shared fence allowed the aggressive animals to access the victim’s yard unexpectedly, setting the stage for the tragic and fatal confrontation. This specific detail is absolutely crucial to the criminal charges subsequently filed against the dogs’ owner.
The mauling was severe, resulting in Phillips’ death from her injuries. The incident quickly escalated, emphasizing the sudden and overwhelming nature of such attacks when aggressive animals gain access to vulnerable individuals. The Houston Police Department initiated an investigation immediately following the report of the fatal attack.
6. **Marshall Garrett’s Arrest and Initial Charges**Following the fatal attack on Harriette Phillips, Marshall Garrett, the 38-year-old owner of the three Staffordshire mixes, was arrested. The arrest occurred on Tuesday, subsequent to the March 23 incident. This legal action signified the beginning of criminal proceedings against him in connection with his dogs’ actions.
Court documents filed on April 9 detailed the specific charges against Garrett. He was charged with three counts of criminal negligent failure to secure his dogs. These charges directly relate to the alleged negligence in maintaining control over his animals, which ultimately led to his neighbor’s death.
Detectives learned that Garrett did not directly witness the attacks. However, court documents stated that he “realized what occurred afterward and called 911.” This indicates his awareness of the tragic outcome once the attack had concluded, prompting him to contact emergency services. His arrest and subsequent charges underscore the legal consequences of failing to adequately secure potentially dangerous animals.
7. **Prior Warnings of Aggressive Behavior**Marshall Garrett’s dogs, described in court documents as “aggressive,” had a documented history of problematic behavior prior to the fatal attack on Harriette Phillips. Detectives learned from neighbors that these dogs had repeatedly exhibited a pattern of digging holes, breaking through fences, and clawing their way into adjacent properties, posing an ongoing nuisance and threat.
These incidents were not isolated, suggesting a persistent issue with the dogs’ containment and temperament. One neighbor specifically recounted an incident where one of Garrett’s dogs nipped her finger while she was attempting to repair a hole in her fence. This direct interaction provided clear evidence of the dogs’ aggressive tendencies and their ability to inflict harm.
The disturbing pattern emerging from these reports strongly suggests that the dogs’ inherently aggressive nature and their known propensity to escape were not secrets within the community. Such consistent behavioral red flags would typically necessitate far more stringent containment measures and a much higher degree of responsible ownership, highlighting a significant failure to implement adequate preventative measures and safeguard against future tragedies.
8. **Negligence and Warning Texts**On the very day of the fatal attack, Marshall Garrett received explicit communication regarding his dogs’ presence in Harriette Phillips’ yard. A neighbor, observing the dogs had once again breached containment, sent Garrett a text message to inform him of the situation, according to court records obtained by police.
In the text exchange, the neighbor specifically warned Garrett that his dogs “are starting to go to our neighbor’s backyard and now, they are digging holes on my side of the fence.” This message served as a direct and undeniable notification of the immediate danger the dogs posed and their unsecured status.
Garrett’s response to this critical warning was recorded in the text messages as: “Oh lord, I’m about to get it resolved.” This reply indicates his awareness of the problem and an acknowledgement of the need for immediate action, yet it failed to prevent the tragedy that subsequently unfolded in Phillips’ yard.
9. **The Severity of the Attack Captured**The details gleaned from the surveillance footage and subsequently documented in court records painted a grim picture of the severity of the dog attack. As Phillips attempted to defend herself, she ultimately fell to the ground, leaving her vulnerable to the aggressive animals.
The court records stated that the dogs began “mauling her head, neck area, arms/elbows and other parts of her body.” This description highlights the extensive and brutal nature of the injuries inflicted, indicating a sustained and vicious assault by the three Staffordshire mixes.
The attack continued relentlessly, as captured by the cameras, “until the complainant was unable to move anymore or screamed for help.” This detail underscores the overwhelming force of the attack and the tragic outcome, with Phillips succumbing to her injuries at the scene.
10. **Marshall Garrett’s Criminal Past: The Murder Charge Foundation**Marshall Garrett’s legal troubles extend beyond the charges related to his dogs’ fatal attack. Court documents revealed that Garrett possessed an established criminal record prior to the March 23 incident, notably involving a prior murder charge that placed him already within the criminal justice system.
Last year, Garrett, alongside a female suspect identified as Latrecia Washington, was charged with murder. This serious accusation stemmed from an incident where they allegedly assaulted a man, leading to his death. This background provides a critical context to Garrett’s character and his legal entanglements.
At the time of the fatal dog attack on Harriette Phillips, Garrett had been arrested for this earlier murder charge and was subsequently released on bond. This detail is significant, indicating that he was out of custody while awaiting trial for a separate, severe felony when his dogs caused another tragic fatality.
11. **Details of the Prior Murder Incident**The murder charge against Marshall Garrett dates back to an incident on October 29, 2024. Court records detail that Garrett was involved in the fatal assault of 69-year-old Alton Martin outside a Family Dollar store in Houston. The altercation reportedly originated from a dispute concerning the authenticity of jewelry Martin had sold to Washington.
According to court records, the confrontation escalated when Garrett approached Martin from behind and punched him in the back of the head. This initial act of violence set off a chain of events that tragically culminated in Martin’s death. Martin’s fiancée reported Washington chasing Martin and holding a knife to his throat before the assault.
Martin sustained severe injuries from the alleged assault, which included Garrett and Washington reportedly beating him with either a knife handle or a metal pipe. Tragically, Martin died from blunt-force trauma to his head approximately 12 days after the attack, leading to the murder charges against Garrett and Washington.
12. **Legal Standing and Bond for Marshall Garrett**Following his initial arrest for the murder charge in October 2024, Marshall Garrett had been released on bond, allowing him to be out of police custody. However, his freedom was short-lived after the fatal dog attack on Harriette Phillips in March 2025.
Garrett was re-arrested on Tuesday, April 9, in connection with the three counts of criminal negligent failure to secure his dogs. This marked his return to police custody for the new charges directly related to the death of his neighbor, demonstrating the immediate legal consequences of his alleged negligence.
During a subsequent court appearance, bond was set at $250,000 for the previously filed murder charge, indicating the serious nature of his ongoing legal battles. As of Tuesday, Garrett remains in police custody, facing multiple felony charges that could result in substantial penalties.
13. **Fate of the Houston Dogs and Broader Implications**Following the fatal mauling of Harriette Phillips, all three Staffordshire mixes belonging to Marshall Garrett were taken into custody. Court records confirmed that these dogs were euthanized after the attack, a decisive action taken by animal control authorities to ensure public safety and prevent any further incidents of aggression.
The decision to euthanize animals involved in fatal attacks, while undeniably difficult, is a standard and necessary procedure in such grave circumstances. This action serves as a crucial final measure to permanently remove a clearly demonstrated threat from the community, thereby concluding the animals’ direct involvement in the horrific events that tragically led to Phillips’ death.
The incidents in both Bacliff and Houston collectively serve as stark reminders of the profound responsibilities inherent in pet ownership, particularly when dealing with large or powerful breeds. They underscore the critical importance of secure containment, vigilant supervision, and proactive intervention when animals display aggressive tendencies.
These heartbreaking tragedies sadly impact far more than the immediate victims and their grieving families, raising key questions about community safety and the effectiveness of current animal control rules. These devastating events are now fueling vital ongoing talks between law enforcement, animal welfare groups, and concerned locals on how to stop similar tragedies from happening again—highlighting the vital role of responsible pet ownership in protecting human lives.
