By all accounts, Ernest Bragg adored his rescue dogs. The 75-year-old Huntsville man had two in his home on Wednesday morning when a man apparently attacked and killed him and his roommate, 49-year-old Daniel Jones.
One of the dogs, known as Princess, Baby Girl or Princess Baby Girl, escaped during the brutal attack. A pet search organization now is trying to find her and bring her back to safety.
Yvonne Phillips of Lost Paws Trapping Team said her group has been scouring the neighborhood, hanging fliers and even installing trail cams to find Princess, who hasn’t been seen since Wednesday.
“It’s just really important to us that we find her safely and are able to catch her and give her to Ernest’s niece in Nashville,” Phillips said.
Phillips said she has assisted many pet owners with lost pets over the years, but this case has really gotten to her.
Bragg graduated from Sparkman High School in 1968 and served in the U.S. Army. According to his obituary, he loved his dogs like children.
Phillips said Bragg had adopted Princess from a rescue organization. Before that, the dog had lived in a hoarder home, Phillips said, and had endured trauma.
Bragg worked hard to establish trust with the pug-beagle-terrier mix. His roommate also owned a beagle who escaped during the attack but was later found.
Bragg was involved in communities for pug-beagle mixes and rescue dogs. Now others are rallying in hopes Princess can be found and returned to safety.
Phillips said Bragg’s home had paintings and framed pictures of Princess.
“It was very apparent that she was loved dearly,” she said.
Bragg and Jones were shot and killed in their home, according to law enforcement.
The suspect in the homicides, Maurice D’Antonio Chatman, barricaded himself in his home nearby and had a standoff with police. Eventually police entered through the roof of the house and arrested Chatman. The 33-year-old has been charged with three counts of capital murder — two for the deaths of Bragg and Jones, and one for the aggravated nature of the alleged burglary, according to law enforcement.
On Wednesday, police said there had been some history of “low-level” calls at the address for the 48 hours before the murders.
The crime shocked Bragg’s friends in the animal rescue community and beyond. Now they are hoping to find Princess and help her build a secure life in Nashville, Phillips said.
Bragg’s niece is Nashville has offered to take Princess after she is found. Phillips said she believes Princess ran out the front door when the attack happened and has been hiding in fear.
“It took a long time for Ernest to gain her trust and he was finally getting through when he was tragically taken from us,” Phillips said.
Anyone with information about Princess is encouraged to call (256) 714-0600.
