In a tragic incident on Jacksonville’s Westside, a 59-year-old veteran was fatally attacked by dogs in 2024. Now, nearly two years after this harrowing event, authorities have arrested a man in connection with the case, charging him with manslaughter.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has finally brought charges in the brutal death of Ronald Edward Coffman Sr., who was killed in a dog attack on August 31, 2024. This week, they announced the arrest of 62-year-old Melvyn Souffrount in connection with the incident.
Initially, details about the investigation were sparse. Authorities found an adult male near the roadway in the 6800 block of Ricker Road, and the case was labeled as pending. However, reports from local TV news indicated that police returned to the scene the following day to remove several dogs from the property. Neighbors observed officers using shovels during their investigation.
The Sheriff’s Office has since confirmed that Coffman suffered multiple dog bites leading to his death.
“After an extensive investigation, it was determined that Souffrount’s repeated negligence and failure to act directly contributed to the victim’s death,” stated the Sheriff’s Office.
“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 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 to 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 told police, 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 Care and Protective Services, where they were euthanized. She said the first was a stray that she fed and then the “mama” showed up and became pregnant and had puppies. She said the dogs 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.
What did the dog-mauling manslaughter arrest report say?
On May 20 the Times-Union obtained Souffrount’s arrest report from the Sheriff’s Office. Many of the details were repeated from Smith’s arrest report and also substantially redacted for investigative purposes under the law.
New information included a documented history in which both Animal Control and the Sheriff’s Office issued warnings to Souffrount regarding the dogs escaping the property and attacking people.
The report also noted there was a report of a written warning placed on the fence of the property by Animal Care and Protective Services.
“The history indicates Souffrount received all of the documented warnings and contacts,” the report stated.
In one of the complaints on July 13, 2024, about a month and a half before Coffman was killed, officers were flagged down by passersby who witnessed the dogs attacking an individual.
“The officers responded to the area and physically observed the dogs escape the property by jumping over the chain-link fence on the north side of the property that divided Ms. Smith’s driveway from the neighbor to the north,” according to the report. “The officer contacted Souffrount via phone and provided verbal warnings to Souffront. Souffrount stated to the officer via phone, ‘I’ll take care of it right away? I’ll start chaining them up.’”
“The officer further stated, ‘I highly advise you to get this fixed,’” according to the report. “Souffrount then stated, ‘I am going to put a fence up as soon as I get home.’ The officer explained the circumstances more and Souffrount confirmed, ‘Like I said, I will put fencing on it today.’”
Souffrount remained in jail in lieu of $500,000 bail as of the afternoon of May 20. The Public Defender’s Office, which has a policy not to comment on open cases, has been assigned to represent him.
This story was first published by our news partners at the Florida Times-Union.
