Closing in on two years later, a 59-year-old veteran has been identified in a grisly dog mauling homicide on Jacksonville’s Westside.
On Tuesday, May 19, the Sheriff’s Office announced that 62-year-old Melvyn Souffrount was charged with manslaughter for his role in the Aug. 31, 2024, death of Ronald Edward Coffman Sr.
Little had been released in the investigation of a property in the 6800 block of Ricker Road other than an adult male was located adjacent to the roadway and the case was pending. But TV news reported that the next night police were back at the same spot seizing numerous dogs from around the property and that neighbors said they saw them with shovels.
The Sheriff’s Office now has stated the victim suffered multiple dog bites.
“Following a lengthy investigation, it was determined that Souffrount’s multiple and repeated negligent actions and failure to act, led to the victim’s death,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
While awaiting for the arrest report, the Times-Union has linked the case to another arrest of Souffrount’s grandmother. On Jan. 21, 2025, 86-year-old Mary Irene Smith, who owns the property, was charged with tampering with evidence. Court records show she pleaded guilty on Jan. 8 and will be sentenced in June.
Her arrest report states that on the morning of the discovery, “M.S.” (Souffrount) had called 911 saying he discovered the body when coming home attempting enter his driveway. When officers arrived, they noted several dogs going to and from the property and jumping over chain-link fences.
The victim was in the dirt near the driveway “covered in countless injuries from head to toe.” He was unidentifiable and completely nude. There was a “Veteran” ball cap and one flipflop nearby but nothing to identify him.
Souffrount said he didn’t know who he was, and Smith told officers she didn’t know anything other than what her grandson told her, according to the report.
Another woman approached the scene and stated she believed him to be one of her roommates, “R.C.” (Coffman). They lived within walking distance on Macbeth Road. She said the two of them went to a nearby Family Dollar at 8 p.m. and then made several stops to purchase narcotics, according to the report. She then dropped him off at a new subdivision being built so he could “dumpster dive” and never saw him again. Security video at the Family Dollar corroborated the account and also showed Coffman wearing the “Veteran” cap and sandals.
The Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed his identity and that it was an animal attack but also deemed it accidental at the time. During a follow-up search warrant at the Ricker property, Smith made a redacted statement contrary to what she initially said, according to the document. This led to detectives finding a box with the victim’s wallet and clothes ripped and shredded consistent with an animal attack. His cell phone also was located buried in the dirt where his body was found.
Eight pit bulls were located on the property, and Smith confirmed they were hers and agreed to surrender them to Animal Control. She said the first was a stray that she fed and then the “mama” showed up and became pregnant and had puppies. She said they were gentle to her and Souffrount but “apparently not to other people.” She also confirmed there had been a couple of complaints about them and revealed she did examine the body with her grandson and panicked.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Nearly 2 years later, grisly dog-mauling case exposed with JSO arrests
Reporting by Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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