• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Kentucky woman sentenced to 20 years in prison for using pit bull to kill man

"She used her animal, a pit bull, as a weapon to help her in this altercation,” Kentucky State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington said.

Melissa Wolke

Melissa Wolke (Kentucky State Police)

November 10, 2022
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, Ky. – A Kentucky woman was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in prison after admitting to ordering her pit bull to attack a man she was assaulting, resulting in the man’s death, according to reports.

Melissa Wolke, 40, of Conway, pleaded guilty in October to the homicide of Donald Abner, 55, which occurred Jan. 10, 2020. After the fatal mauling, neighbors told police they saw Wolke on top of the man battering him and telling the dog “good boy, get him.” Abner died at the scene, WKYT reported.

The neighbor reportedly captured part of the attack on video. However, it was later deleted because it made the witness “sick to watch.”

Police arrived as the attack was ongoing. Officers deployed a Taser to get Wolke off Abner, WTVQ said at the time. Moreover, she refused to call the dog off the attack.

The former fighting pit bull named Denali was so aggressive that police were forced to fatally shoot him at the scene, according to the New York Post.

Donald Abner was staying with Wolke prior to the attack.Donald Abner was staying with Melissa Wolke prior to the fatal  attack. (Family handout)

“The way I look at it, she used her animal, a pit bull, as a weapon to help her in this altercation,” Kentucky State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington told WKYT.

Detective Ryan Loudermilk of the Kentucky State Police testified shortly after the fatal attack that Wolke was distraught and sobbing, saying, “Oh my God, I went ‘redneck’ on him.”

Wolke said she had a history of excessive drinking, and later told detectives that she couldn’t remember the fight. An empty bottle of Jagermeister was the only alcohol found at the scene.

Abner and Wolke had been friends for about 20 years. He had been staying with his attacker for about three months prior to his death.

The Rockcastle County coroner ruled Abner’s official cause of death as asphyxiation, although he suffered bite wounds to his face and neck, and also sustained a broken bone in his neck.


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Donald AbnerkentuckyMelissa Wolkepit bullRockcastle County
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Kentucky police officer killed by driver under the influence

October 30, 2022
Kentucky officer wounded

Kentucky officer wounded, suspect dies in shootout with police

September 9, 2022
California officer

Gunman opens fire at Kentucky men’s homeless shelter killing 2, wounding 4 others

August 26, 2022
Kentucky nurse

Kentucky nurse charged with murder after patient dies from maltreatment

August 23, 2022
Lance Storz

3 Kentucky LEOs and K9 killed, 4 more wounded, 1 emergency management director injured during barricade situation

July 1, 2022
Samuel Quinton Edwards

Fugitive killed in shootout with Kentucky State Police

June 29, 2022
Load More

Latest Articles

Aiden Fucci

Teenage killer pleads guilty to stabbing girl 114 times

February 6, 2023
dead woman

‘Dead’ woman discovered breathing at New York funeral home

February 6, 2023
Tremaine Jackson

Terminated Arizona DPS trooper sent to prison for sex related offenses during traffic stops

February 6, 2023
John Michael Musbach

New Jersey man pleads guilty to hiring hitman to murder 14-year-old witness in child porn case

February 5, 2023
South Carolina deputies

South Carolina deputies fatally shoot suspect after he stabbed police K9 during service of arrest warrant

February 5, 2023
Noah David Beard

Gang members with ‘cartel affiliations’ arrested in massacre of 6 at California home

February 5, 2023
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com