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American Morning
Authorities Have Just Released 911 Tapes from Gruesome Dog Mauling Death of Diane Whipple
Aired April 03, 2002 - 07:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: This story is getting a lot of attention this morning. Authorities have just released the 911 tapes from the gruesome dog mauling death of Diane Whipple last year. Adding to the already horrific details that emerged during the trial last month, the new tapes shows the frantic and frightened urgency of her neighbors, as they called to report the attack taking place in the hallway just outside their own apartments.
Don Knapp of CNN affiliate KRON in San Francisco has the tapes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON KNAPP, CNN AFFILIATE KRON REPORTER (voice-over): The 911 tapes were never used in the trial of Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel, but they corroborate the testimony of a key prosecution witness to the dog mauling killing of Diane Whipple, that of her neighbor, Esther Berkmaier.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 911.
ESTHER BERKMAIER, 911 CALLER: Yes, I am just wreck. Please send police to 2398 Pacific Avenue, corner of Filmore (ph). We have two dogs rampaging out in the hall up on the sixth floor, and I think they have -- they are, you know, even their owner cannot control them. They are huge.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. The owner knows that the dogs are in the hallway?
BERKMAIER: No, I think they are attacking the owner too. I reckon she is screaming right now, and I don't dare open the door, because these dogs are huge.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What kind of dogs are they?
BERKMAIER: Oh, I don't know. They are bigger than a police dog.
Berkmeier's apartment was directly across the hall from Whipple's.
BERKMAIER: Please hurry. I hear her screaming, and I don't dare open the door. These dogs, they are ferocious.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, ma'am, don't open your door. We'll get somebody right over there. OK?
KNAPP: Police dispatchers then called animal control.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Animal Care Control.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, it's San Francisco police calling.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Uh-huh.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you could possibly start someone in heading over to 2398 Pacific Avenue.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 2398 Pacific.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we just had a lady who lives in that building call in and say there are two very large dogs loose in the hallway on the sixth floor. And apparently the owner of the dogs is unable to take control of them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And she, herself, is yelling for help.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the police are going to be heading over there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, very good. We'll send somebody right now.
KNAPP: About the same time, a visitor to an apartment two floors below also heard Whipple's screams for help.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, and you heard a male or a lady screaming?
DAVID KENZIE (ph), 911 CALLER: I heard a woman screaming. There is also a dog up there barking.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. And your name, sir?
KENZIE: My name is David Kenzie. I wanted to call you. I am going to go up and see what the hell is going on.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wouldn't go up there, because you never know what you might get into.
KNAPP: Police and animal control officers were sent to the scene, but not soon enough for Esther Berkmeier.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: San Francisco Police 911. What is your emergency?
BERKMEIER: Yes, I called five minutes ago. We have two ferocious dogs on the loose at 2398 Pacific Avenue.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So you have already called us?
BERKMEIER: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're on our way, ma'am. You'll have to just be patient. You only called five minutes ago.
BERKMEIER: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. Thank you -- be patient.
BERKMEIER: I'm sorry.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: Patience? That report from Don Knapp of CNN affiliate KRON. The jury in the case eventually found both dog owners guilty on all five charges, including a verdict of second degree murder against Marjorie Knoller. Sentencing comes next month.
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