Owners of Attacking Dogs Vanish

The owners of two Rottweiler dogs that mauled a jogging physician and attacked other people and pets in a Brentwood neighborhood have disappeared, the Los Angeles city attorney’s office said Friday.

Robert Henderson and Eileen F. Benyo, charged with 21 misdemeanors and 10 leash law infractions more than a week ago, reportedly left behind a rented home full of furniture and personal belongings.

The dogs were impounded after four attacks on people--including a polio-disabled man on crutches--as well as three on other dogs. Three other times, neighbors complained that the Rottweilers were running loose.

One victim was Dr. Jerome Helmon, 46, who was attacked while jogging July 23. He underwent more than four hours of surgery in which 200 stitches were required to close his wounds.

Earlier that morning, City Atty. James Hahn said, Alan Toy was set upon in front of his home and had to fight the dogs off with his crutches until a house guest drove the animals away with a high-powered garden hose.

Hahn said that after the charges were filed and arrest warrants obtained on Sept. 4, an attorney for Henderson and Benyo promised they would surrender, but as of Friday they had not done so.

The city attorney said little is known about Henderson, on whom the state Department of Motor Vehicles has no record. Hahn added that Henderson apparently pays all his bills in cash and, at the time he leased the house on Jonesboro Drive, gave a driver’s license number now believed to be phony.

The only thing known about the woman, Hahn said, is that the DMV lists her date of birth as April 5, 1964.