NewsKansas City Public Safety

Actions

Ray County Sheriff says autopsy will determine if 2 dogs killed Amazon driver outside Excelsior Springs home

Amazon driver killed in Excelsior Springs
Posted at 12:39 PM, Oct 25, 2022
and last updated 2022-10-25 19:48:29-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After an Amazon delivery driver was found dead on Monday outside of an Excelsior Springs residence due to a possible animal mauling, Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers says an autopsy will be held to determine if the driver was killed by dogs.

Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers said the incident took place Monday afternoon along Highway O near Magnolia Lane. Deputies located the victim's body, who may have died due to trauma from animal bites.

When deputies attempted to contact the victim, they located two aggressive dogs, a German Shepherd and English Mastiff.

One deputy shot and injured the mastiff due to aggressive behavior. The dogs returned to the home, and deputies said they could hear barking and saw blood on the doggy door of the home. Deputies later entered the residence and shot and killed the dogs to protect those responding to the scene.

The homeowners were not in town, but the dogs were being cared for in their absence.

Amazon spokesperson Lisa Levandowski provided KSHB 41 News with the following statement:

We’re deeply saddened by tonight’s tragic incident involving a member of our Amazon family and will be providing support to the team and the driver’s loved ones. We are assisting law enforcement in their investigation.

KSHB 41 spoke with neighbors in the area.

Billy Marrant lives across the street from the home where the man died and says the fences to the home are always locked.

“I’ve never seen the dogs out," Marrant said. "Their gate’s always closed and it looks like they got it wired so the dogs can’t get out. I just can’t imagine anybody would go in there. I don’t trust dogs that come into my yard and snares at me and growls at me and stuff. So I just stay away from them."

An autopsy and a necropsy will be done on Wednesday. From there, the prosecutor’s office will determine if and any charges will be filed against the pet owners.

“That part of Excelsior we’re at is unincorporated, so there’s no ordinances there," Childers said. "The county doesn’t have any ordinances. However, we do have state law — like animal trespassing and things of that nature. I do think it’s gonna open up a lot of questions and maybe some case law or at least how companies handle companies like this.”