Lapeer County Couple Accepts Plea Deal in Dog-Mauling Death of Jogger

A Metamora Township couple reached a deal last Friday pleading no contest to owing a dangerous dog causing death. They were initially charged with second degree murder after their dogs, two Cane Corso dogs named Toni and Julia, killed Craig Sytsma while he was jogging down Thomas Road in Lapeer County last summer. Sebastiano Quagliata and Valbona Lucaj will each face up to 15 years in prison. At one point during the hearing Lucaj apologized to the Sytsma’s family saying “I’m so sorry.”