Sheriff, neighbor question whether pack of dogs killed Rogersville man

A Rogersville bicyclist who was critically injured in a mid-November attack by a suspected pack of dogs has died after nearly a month in a local hospital.

Werner Vogt, 85, died Friday night, according to daughter-in-law Noel Vogt. In an earlier interview with the News-Leader, Noel Vogt said her father in law "died three times that day" while being treated for his injuries, but doctors were able to revive him.  

Vogt was attacked Nov. 12 on Northwoods Road while riding his bicycle in the heavily wooded Anchor Hill Ranch area southeast of Rogersville in Christian County. Vogt was found on the road about a half mile from where he lived with his son, Vernon, and daughter-in-law Noel.

A grandson who went looking for Vogt after he failed to return from his bike ride found him severely injured on the side of the road.

After several days in the hospital, Vogt emerged from unconsciousness and was able to tell a deputy that a pack of dogs attacked him. But Sheriff Brad Cole said he hopes a "forensic review" of photographs of Vogt's numerous injuries could reveal more details about the animals that bit him.

Cole has asked a wildlife expert in Florida to examine the hospital photographs documenting the severe bite wounds Vogt sustained.

"We sent some items to an expert in wildlife management in Florida," Cole said. "They are doing a forensic exam of the pictures, taking measurements from the photos. His injuries were pretty horrific. I've worked many dog bites in the last 23 years, but I've not seen anything like this."

Tuesday afternoon, Cole said the extent of Vogt's injuries on his arms, legs and shoulder made him question whether they were made by dogs.

"The injuries he had were way beyond what you'd expect to see from a dog bite or normal dog attack," Cole said. "We're still investigating it to try to figure out what it was."

Cole previously was Christian County's coroner before being elected sheriff earlier this year.

During a hospital visit after Vogt regained consciousness, Cole said a deputy showed Vogt a variety of stock photos of different breeds of dogs to see if he could recognize the kind of dogs that bit him.

"He couldn't ID any of those," Cole said.  "He says it's a pack of dogs, but there's been no evidence of any sightings of any dogs out there.  We spoke to several people in that area and they said they've never seen any strays or packs of dogs in that area."

Immediately after the attack, sheriff's deputies canvassed the area trying to find the animals that attacked Vogt.

"We are still doing some more proactive and concentrated patrols in that area, watching for a pack of dogs," Cole said.

Christian County doesn't have an animal control department, but Cole said a sheriff's deputy would respond if a dog bites a person.

A neighbor and her daughter who know the Vogts remembered Werner Vogt as a kind and friendly man who was frequently seen riding his bicycle on Northwood Road.

"He was so active for his age, a very nice man who spoke broken English because he was from Germany," said Chrissy Thompson, who live one street over from Northwood Road.

Her daughter Sophia recalled visiting friends at the Vogt residence and talking with Werner.

"I knew him," Sophia said. "I'd go over there all the time.  He lived in the upstairs of the house and he had a drawer full of chocolate that he'd share with us. He loved biking. He was very athletic for how old he was."

Chrissy Thompson said she has seen occasional strays roaming their upscale rural area because people often dumped unwanted pets in the heavily forested hills. But she said she hadn't seen a pack of dogs roaming about.

She said she wasn't afraid and still allows her children to go outdoors.

"We're not wary of letting kids ride bikes out here," she said. "But they are very aware."

Thompson said she spoke with Noel Vogt after the initial attack and learned that "Mr. Vogt said it was two dogs — one was brown and one was black," she said. "Whatever it was, it was mean."

Thompson said she hoped the sheriff could determine precisely what kind of animal attacked Vogt.  A few years ago some kind of animal attacked and injured her 90-pound dog. The culprit was never conclusively determined.

"We've had several mountain lion sightings out here, and when we had the big drought a few years ago we had bears in our trash cans," Thompson said. "We live in the country, so it's not surprising to see wild animals out here."

Shortly after the attack, Cole asked the Missouri Department of Conservation to test samples of animal saliva found on torn pieces of Vogt's clothing to determine the kind of animal was involved. MDC declined, saying a dog attack would first need to be ruled out before it would test the samples for wildlife involvement.

On Tuesday, Larry Yamnitz, MDC protection division chief in Jefferson City, appeared to soften that position a bit.

"If we've got some indication it was wildlife related, possibly we could do a DNA test," he said.  "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.  If there's something we can do to help the family solve the mystery, we'd be glad to help."

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