Thursday, May 23, 2013
Maddox Derkosh, 2 years old, fell into a wild African painted dogs exhibit last year and was killed.
The parents of 2-year-old Maddox, who was killed after falling into a wild African painted dogs exhibit last fall, have filed a lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for unspecified damages, according to WPXI. The lawsuit filed on behalf of Jason and Elizabeth Derkosh of Whitehall Borough claims that zoo officials had ample warning that parents routinely lift their children onto a rail overlooking the exhibit so that the children can see the dogs better, according to the report. The lawsuit states that zoos across the country have more and better safeguards in place to keep children safe. Following the incident, many donated toy trucks in memory of the toddler. Zoo officials have not commented on the lawsuit, KDKA reported. …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Two-year-old Maddox Derkosh died after falling from the platform into the painted dogs exhibit.
The Pittsburgh Zoo observation platform from which 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh fell into an African painted dogs exhibit will be removed, according to a spokesman at the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office. "In an effort to facilitate the ongoing review of the circumstances surrounding the death of Maddox Derkosh at the Pittsburgh Zoo, District Attorney (Stephen A.) Zappala (Jr.) met this morning with Dr. Barbara Baker and the City of Pittsburgh police officers who responded to the scene," said spokesman Mike Manko in an email to reporters. Maddox, of Whitehall Borough, was visiting the zoo with his mother on Nov. 4 when he fell from the top of a platform railing into the dogs exhibit and was mauled to death. "The meeting, which …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
2-year-old Maddox Derkosh of Whitehall was killed in early November.
The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office will not pursue criminal charges against Elizabeth Derkosh, the mother of the late Maddox Derkosh, who was killed in a tragic mauling accident at the Pittsburgh Zoo in early November. However, according to KDKA, District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. is investigating a possible criminal negligence charge against the zoo. Elizabeth and 2-year-old Maddox, both of Whitehall Borough's Highgrove Road, were visiting the zoo on Nov. 4 when Maddox fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside of the pit area of an African painted dogs exhibit, according to a statement from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Pittsburgh police said that the child lost his balance after his mother lifted …
The dogs mauled a 2-year-old visitor to death in early November.
Less than a month after 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh of Whitehall Borough was mauled to death at the Pittsburgh Zoo, news has surfaced that the zoo's 2013 calendar features African painted dogs, the same species that killed the boy in early November. Zoo officials say that the calendars, featuring the dogs in its March spreads, had already been printed and made available to patrons before Derkosh's death, according to Huffington Post. Maddox was visiting the zoo with his mother on Nov. 4 when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside of the pit area of the dogs' exhibit, according to a statement from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Pittsburgh police said that the child lost his balance after his mother lifted him in a …
Monday, November 19, 2012
Toy construction trucks have become a symbol of community support for the Derkoshes, whose 2-year-old son Maddox died Nov. 4 at the Pittsburgh Zoo.
The Sewickley Mom’s Club and the Sewickley Newcomer’s Club recently joined forces in memory of little Maddox Derkosh, who died at the zoo Nov. 4. Members from both organizations participated in a toy truck drive, resulting in 30 trucks of various sizes donated over the course of a week in memory of the 2-year-old. Maddox died after he fell into a zoo exhibit and was mauled by dogs. Toy trucks have become a symbol of community support for the Derkoshes and are being collected indefinitely. The trucks were delivered Sunday and will be donated to a children's charity in Maddox's memory. Like Sewickley Patch on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Don't forget to sign up for our daily email newsletter by clicking here.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Spaghetti dinner runs from 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25.
The Brentwood Presbyterian Church will serve as the latest host of community support in light of the recent tragedy that struck the Derkosh family of Whitehall Borough. On Sunday, Nov. 25, the church—located at 3725 Brownsville Road in Brentwood Borough (15227)—will welcome the public for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 2 to 8 p.m. All proceeds from the dinner as well as all monetary donations will go directly to the family of 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh, who died on Nov. 4. Maddox was visiting the Pittsburgh Zoo with his mother when he fell from the top of a platform railing to the ground inside of the pit area of an African painted dogs exhibit. He was mauled to death by the dogs. The cost per dinner at the Brentwood fundraiser is $8 …
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Maddox Derkosh of Whitehall Borough was buried on Friday.
William Slater II Funeral Service in Scott Township, the place where friends and family visited 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh on Thursday after his tragic death at the Pittsburgh Zoo, will continue to collect toy construction trucks to be donated to a children's Christmas charity in Maddox's memory. Original plans were to collect trucks at Slater Funeral Service through Thursday, but a representative of the funeral service said on Friday that the toys collection will continue "indefinitely." The same can be said for the Whitehall Police Department, which serves the Derkosh family's home municipality of Whitehall Borough. A representative of the police station said that trucks can continue to be dropped off at the station through Sunday, Nov. …
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Trucks can be donated now at Slater Funeral Service in Scott Township OR at Maddox Derkosh's funeral Mass Friday at St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon.
The Derkosh family of Whitehall Borough is asking that interested parties, in lieu of flowers, give toy construction trucks to be donated to a children's Christmas charity in the memory of 2-year old Maddox Derkosh, who died tragically at the Pittsburgh Zoo on Sunday. The trucks are being accepted now at William Slater II Funeral Service in Scott Township. They will also be accepted at Derkosh's funeral Mass at St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon at 10 a.m. on Friday. Friends will be welcomed for a viewing of Maddox at Slater Funeral Service from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, according to Maddox's obituary on the funeral service's website. Trucks can also be dropped off at the Whitehall Police Department lobby throughout Wednesday. Maddox was …
J. L. MARTIN
9:15 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012
ZAPPALA IS WRONG, WRONG, WRONG - THINKING ABOUT FILING CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THE ZOO. IT IS NOT THE ZOO'S FAULT OR THOSE DARLING AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS THAT MADDOX'S MOTHER IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND IS GUILTY OF POOR PARENTING. PLUS, SHE MIGHT NEED HER HEAD EXAMINED. WHY WOULD YOU BALANCE A 2 YEAR OLD ON A RAIL? LEAVE THE ZOO ALONE AND PUT THE BLAME WHERE IT BELONGS more ›