Wrongful death suit filed in Rogersville fatal dog-mauling case; lawyer wants dogs euthanized

The son of an elderly Rogersville man who was killed in a suspected dog attack in 2015 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owners of two boxer dogs linked to the mauling.

Vernon Vogt filed the lawsuit Thursday in Christian County in connection with the death of his father, Werner Vogt, 85, who was attacked while riding his bicycle and died several weeks later from severe injuries stemming from the attack, according to the lawsuit.

The suit names Joseph and Lindsay Brink as owners of two boxers named Otto and Chubbs. The Brinks live a short distance away from where the attack occurred on Nov. 12, 2015, in the upscale rural Rogersville subdivision on North Woods Road.

According to the lawsuit, Vernon Vogt is suing to recover damages for the loss of his father and for the pain and suffering his father endured while being treated at a Springfield hospital. Vernon Vogt also is seeking to recover medical expenses related to his father's medical care. Werner Vogt died on Dec. 4, 2015.

Determined investigators crack the case of what killed Werner Vogt

His son has hired Corbett Law Firm to handle the case.

A Christian County Sheriff's Office investigation used DNA evidence taken from Werner Vogt's clothing to link the boxer dogs owned by the Brinks to the attack. Sheriff's investigators also discovered that the Brinks disposed of their two boxers Otto and Chubbs after the attack by sending one to a Bolivar humane society, where it was adopted by a local family, and the other through a Craigslist ad.

The new owners of the two dogs said they didn't know the animals potentially had been linked to the Werner Vogt attack until after investigators arrived to take DNA samples from the dogs.

Attorney Jim Corbett, representing Vernon Vogt, noted that those two dogs are still alive.

"One of my concerns is that those two dogs are still out there," Corbett said.

Asked if he thought the two dogs should be confiscated or euthanized, Corbett said "yes."

"I hope that's one of the results of the lawsuit," he said.

Unsuspecting families end up with 2 dogs linked to fatal attack

In early March, both of the owners who adopted the Brink dogs said they have had no problems with the animals and would not want to give them up.

The investigation remains open. Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole on Tuesday said one of his detectives has a few more things to follow up on, then he'll send the case to the Christian County prosecutor's office. It would be up to the prosecutor to decide if any charges might result from the dog-attack case.

The News-Leader was unable to reach the Brinks for a comment.