Family of Hunter Trampled by Elephants Says They Heard ‘Crazy Things’ About His Death
The family of Ernie Dosio says the hours after his death were filled with confusion, conflicting reports and what they describe as “crazy things” about how he died.
Dosio, a 75-year-old big game hunter, was killed on April 17 during a hunting trip in Gabon, Central Africa, after a herd of elephants attacked him in the rainforest.
But for his loved ones back in California, understanding what actually happened didn’t come easily.
Ernie Dosio’s Family Breaks Their Silence
According to Dosio’s ex-wife, Rinda Butler Dosio, the family initially received inconsistent and sometimes inaccurate information.
“There’s so many different things that are going around. Everything gets kind of exaggerated,” she told The Daily Mail.
Early reports were especially unclear.
“The day it happened we heard it was buffalos — and different crazy things. The lawyers got called before the family. There’s just some things that just don’t make sense,” she added.
One early version of events incorrectly identified buffalo as the cause of death. Butler Dosio also said she was told the professional guide accompanying him had died — though the safari company later stated the guide survived with serious injuries.
As the details slowly became clearer, one thing remained constant: the loss.
Ernie Dosio Was Trampled by a Herd of Elephants
Dosio had traveled to Africa on a $40,000 hunt and was tracking a yellow-backed duiker with a guide in the Lopé-Okanda region when they encountered a herd of elephants.
The group — five cows and a calf — reacted immediately.
“Whilst in the forest, Ernie and his [guide] surprised five forest elephant cows with a calf. Feeling under threat, the elephants immediately attacked them,” a friend told the New York Post.
The guide was reportedly struck first and separated from his rifle, leaving Dosio exposed with only a shotgun meant for smaller game. A herd of elephants then trampled him.
“I would rather not go into detail, but it is safe to assume it would have been quick,” the friend said.
Ernie Dosio’s Son Takes Issue With the Media’s Coverage
Back home, Dosio was more than the circumstances of his death.
He was a longtime vineyard owner and businessman, running Pacific AgriLands, a Modesto-based agricultural company overseeing a 12,000-acre vineyard operation. He lived in Lodi, California, and was deeply involved in his community — from the Lodi Winegrape Commission to local conservation and hunting organizations.
His son, Jeff Dosio, has pushed back on how his father’s story has been portrayed.
“It hasn’t been fun. It hasn’t been fun at all. Whoever got all these pictures of our trophy room — I don’t know how that came about at all,” he said.
Those images, which circulated online after his death, showed a lifetime of hunting — a fact that quickly became part of the public conversation, but not the full picture, according to those who knew him.
Friends Remember Ernie Dosio as a Charitable Man
Friends and colleagues have emphasized Dosio’s generosity and character, describing him as someone who gave back quietly and consistently.
“Ernie always had his hand in his pocket and would help out those who needed it be it war veterans or handicapped or underprivileged kids,” wrote Tommy Whitman, secretary of the Lodi Elks Lodge, in a Facebook tribute.
“He would never want recognition but he was always there with a loving heart…May all of our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones,” the tribute continued.
Others remembered his personality just as vividly.
“Ernie with his big mustache was larger than life but did not show it off, although he had money…he was just a farmer and good old country boy who loved to hunt and fish,” one relative told the New York Post.
Friends also defended his hunting record.
“All Ernie’s hunts were strictly licensed and above board and were registered as conservation in culling animal numbers,” one friend told The Daily Mail.
Dosio leaves behind two sons, Jeff and Blake, who both followed him into the family business.
As arrangements are made to return his body to California, his family continues to process not just the loss — but the confusion that surrounded it.
For them, the story isn’t just about how he died. It’s about who he was.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
