The Dog Attack That Became a Murder Case

Thirty-three-year-old lacrosse coach Diane Whipple was attacked and killed just steps from her apartment door in San Francisco. Two massive Presa Canario dogs, Bane and Hera, mauled her in the hallway of her building while neighbors desperately tried to help. She never made it outside.

This was not a random dog attack. The dogs belonged to attorneys Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel, who had taken them in despite repeated warnings about their aggression. The animals had been bred for guarding and linked to a prison-based dog breeding operation run by Aryan Brotherhood inmate Paul Schneider. Neighbors had reported dangerous behavior long before Diane was killed.

Prosecutors argued that Knoller and Noel knew the dogs posed a serious risk and chose to ignore it. Knoller was convicted of second-degree murder. Noel was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The case marked a legal turning point, establishing that knowingly creating a dangerous situation can carry the same consequences as direct violence.

Diane’s partner, Sharon Smith, also made history by filing California’s first same-sex wrongful death lawsuit. The case left a lasting impact on criminal law, civil liability, and how society defines responsibility when warnings go unheeded.