Henderson Suspect Blames ‘Coyote Attack’ for Dog Found Alive in Trash Bag

In a startling new development in the death of a small dog found sealed inside a trash bag in Henderson’s Inspirada neighborhood, the man accused of dumping her is now telling detectives that a coyote is to blame.

The claim, made by 60-year-old Randy Lee Katz after his arrest on November 7, 2025, introduces a dramatic new layer to a case already marked by heartbreak, anger, and community outrage. But according to investigators and veterinary findings, Katz’s explanation is rapidly collapsing under scrutiny.

Katz, the former owner of the dog identified as Baily, had already been charged with a felony under Nevada’s strengthened Reba’s Law — the same statute that propelled his arrest just days after the dog’s discovery on November 4. Now, his new version of events is forcing investigators to revisit every detail: the injuries, the timeline, and the condition in which Baily was found when a good Samaritan lifted the knotted black trash bag from the garbage can and rushed her to a veterinary hospital.

Katz’s Account

Detectives say Katz told them that Baily slipped out of the house on November 4 and that he discovered her lying motionless in the street around 5:15 p.m., bleeding from what he claimed was a coyote bite. The attack, he said, reminded him of a previous coyote incident involving another dog, which he insisted had left his girlfriend distraught. According to Katz, he quietly placed Baily in a trash bag and discarded her body to spare her the emotional trauma.

On its surface, the explanation carries a tone of panic and misplaced compassion. But almost immediately, investigators began identifying contradictions — and when compared to veterinary assessments, the story began to unravel.

Baily Was Still Alive

The central fact that undermines Katz’s narrative is simple and devastating: Baily was alive when she was found.

A homeowner who discovered the trash bag on November 4 rushed the dog to a veterinary hospital, where clinicians documented severe dehydration, bruising to the armpit and abdomen, and a single puncture wound. According to the arrest report, veterinarians noted that Baily “may have been kicked,” a conclusion drawn from bruising patterns inconsistent with an animal attack but consistent with blunt force trauma.

The revelation that Baily was still breathing — albeit barely — raises an immediate question investigators now consider unavoidable: how could Katz have believed she was dead?

Veterinarians Say the Injuries Do Not Match a Coyote Attack

Coyote attacks follow predictable and well-documented injury patterns. Forensic veterinary research shows that coyotes target the neck, throat, and head, leaving clusters of puncture wounds, deep tissue damage, and internal hemorrhaging. Rib fractures, collapsed lungs, and tearing around the trachea are common in confirmed attacks, particularly involving small dogs like Baily.

But in this case, the injuries were in the abdomen and armpit — areas not typically targeted by coyotes. The bruising was blunt, not puncture-based, and did not follow the spacing of coyote canine teeth. There were no signature crush injuries, no neck trauma, and none of the classic features forensic pathologists use to confirm predation.

In short, experts say the physical evidence simply does not align with Katz’s claim.

The Timeline Falls Apart Under Forensic Review

Just as damning is the chronology investigators pieced together from surveillance footage, digital timestamps, and veterinary assessments. According to the arrest report, Baily was placed in the trash can sometime after 11:57 a.m. and discovered around 6:30 p.m. — a window of more than six hours inside a sealed bag with no food, water, or ventilation.

Baily’s severe dehydration is consistent with confinement, not with a dog dying on a street minutes after being attacked by wildlife. Investigators now believe she suffered for hours inside the bag — a fact that sharply contradicts Katz’s assertion that he was merely disposing of a body he thought was lifeless.

Necropsy Pending as Investigators Build Their Case

As of Katz’s arrest, the necropsy on Baily had not yet been completed. Those findings may become pivotal, providing answers about the nature and timing of the injuries, whether any puncture wounds match coyote dentition, and whether internal trauma indicates predation or human-inflicted harm. Forensic veterinary specialists routinely differentiate between bite wounds, impact injuries, and post-mortem artifact — making the forthcoming report a critical piece of evidence.

But even without necropsy results, investigators say the current forensic picture already casts significant doubt on Katz’s version of events.

Investigators Point to Consciousness of Guilt

According to the arrest report, Katz told officers he “did not want to get caught” because the situation would upset his girlfriend. He allegedly never contacted authorities even after seeing news coverage confirming Baily had been found alive. Detectives also recovered trash bags and blue gloves at Katz’s home matching those found around Baily, along with blood swabs near a dog kennel.

To investigators, these elements paint a picture of calculated concealment rather than a panicked misunderstanding.

Reba’s Law Puts Serious Prison Time on the Table

Under Reba’s Law — passed in the wake of the 2024 Reba case that shocked Nevada and inspired sweeping reform — Katz faces a Category B felony. If convicted, he could receive between one and six years in prison, with prosecutors able to seek up to ten in especially severe cases. The law also authorizes fines of up to $10,000 and lifetime listing on the state’s Animal Abuse Registry.

For a community still raw from previous cruelty cases involving Treyu, Reba, and other animals, Katz’s arrest is seen as another test of Nevada’s new commitment to tougher enforcement.

Court Date Set as Community Waits for Answers

Katz is scheduled to appear in court on December 2, 2025, where prosecutors are expected to highlight the glaring discrepancies between his account and the forensic evidence. The necropsy results, once released, may become the final piece determining whether Katz’s “coyote attack” claim holds even a shred of credibility.

For now, Henderson residents — many already shaken by Bailey’s death and the swift arrest that followed — are watching closely as the case enters its next phase. Whether this latest explanation is a desperate attempt to avoid accountability or a genuine misinterpretation may ultimately be decided by a jury. But investigators say the evidence so far paints a clear picture: whatever happened to Baily, it was not the work of a coyote.