Illegal alien owners of dogs that killed Michigan runner charged with murder

A rural Michgan road

A rural Michigan married couple from Albania living in the country illegally were charged with second degree murder yesterday.

From the Detroit Free Press:

As some of their supporters quietly wept, a Lapeer magistrate this moring formally charged a Metamora couple with second-degree murder after their two large dogs attacked and mauled to death a jogger as he ran along a rural road July 23.

Sebastiano Quagliata, 45, handcuffed, was still wearing the paint-stained pants he had on when police arrested him at his job Thursday night.

This morning, Magsitrate Michael Delling ordered a $500,000 bond, saying Quagliata posed a flight risk. Moments later, his subdued wife, Valbona Lucaj, 44, was brought into the courtroom, handcuffed, and Delling ordered a $500,000 bond as well.

The pair face up to life in prison if convicted. They are also charged with harboring a dangerous animal causing death, a 15-year felony. Craig Sytsma, 46, and the father of three, was jogging along Thomas Road the evening of July 23 when the two large dogs, Cane Corsos, attacked him. He died of his injuries at a local hospital.

Cane Corsos are large dogs, similar to Bull Mastiffs, and are bred to hunt wild boars in their native Italy.

The owners of the dogs have been fighting deportation for years.

Earlier post:

Owners of dogs that killed Michigan runner in country illegally

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