Janna Campbell of Essex was cited last week for manslaughter and reckless endangerment following the March 10 death of her father, Stephen Campbell (left, obituary photo), after he was attacked by Campbell’s pit bull. Screenshots of signs at the Campbell home from March 11 WCAX video.

By Guy Page

An Essex woman has been charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment after police concluded that her pet dog, which fatally attacked her 76-year-old father in March, had a documented history of violent behavior and had previously injured several people.

The Essex Police Department announced June 12 that Janna Campbell, 43, was arrested following the completion of an investigation into the March 10 death of her father, Stephen Campbell. Authorities allege that Campbell’s dog, “Jack,” had a known pattern of aggression before attacking and killing Stephen Campbell at the family’s Brigham Hill Road home.

Campbell was processed and released with a flash citation and is scheduled to appear June 16 in Chittenden County Superior Court, Criminal Division, to answer charges of manslaughter and reckless endangerment.

Police responded to 179 Brigham Hill Road at approximately 3:20 p.m. on March 10 after receiving a report of an animal attack. Emergency responders found Stephen Campbell suffering from severe injuries inflicted by the family’s large male pit bull and pronounced him dead at the scene. Other family members, including Janna Campbell, were present during the attack and were able to stop the dog and secure it.

Following the incident, the dog was voluntarily surrendered by its owner to the town’s animal control officer and transferred to the Chittenden Humane Society, where it was euthanized.

Investigators said the dog had previously been the subject of a January hearing before the Essex Selectboard after seriously injuring a delivery worker at the residence. Because the attack occurred on the owner’s property, the case was handled as involving a “potentially vicious dog” under state law and local ordinance.

The Selectboard ordered several corrective measures, including confining the dog when visitors were present, posting warning signs, requiring training for both the dog and owner, and using muzzling equipment. Essex police said they had conducted regular follow-up visits and believed the owner had complied with those requirements.

However, the subsequent investigation into Stephen Campbell’s death determined that Jack had injured several other people before the fatal attack and exhibited an established pattern of violent behavior. Based on those findings and in consultation with the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office, police pursued criminal charges against Janna Campbell.

According to his obituary, Campbell graduated from Burlington High School in 1967 and served with the Vermont National Guard’s 131st Engineer Company, deploying to Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. After returning home, he co-owned TUT’S on North Street with his father before beginning a long career with the U.S. Postal Service. He later managed The Opry music venue and, following his retirement from the Post Office in 2004, worked for FedEx until retiring in 2019.