From Uptown Press Staff
A 73-year-old grandmother in Ohio was tragically mauled to death by two pit bulls that had reportedly ingested cocaine, sparking a legal battle against the dogs’ owners, local authorities, and the housing complex where they lived.
JoAnn Echelbarger was gardening outside her home last October when the dogs, named Echo and Apollo, launched a fatal attack, leaving her severely dismembered. Her husband, who suffers from dementia and is wheelchair-bound, was unable to intervene. Despite efforts to save her, Echelbarger succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Forensic reports later confirmed that the pit bulls had traces of cocaine in their systems at the time of the attack. Police arrived at the scene and shot both dogs, although, according to the family’s lawsuit, one of them continued to attack Echelbarger even after being shot.
The owners of the dogs, Adam Withers and his mother Susan Withers, were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in February. Their sentencing remains pending. The case has raised concerns over the authorities’ handling of prior complaints about the dogs, with records showing that police had been called to the Withers’ home weeks before the attack.
The lawsuit, filed by Echelbarger’s family, alleges that the homeowners’ association had ordered the removal of the dogs, but no action was taken. It also claims that local dog wardens failed to intervene, even when it was suspected that the dogs had ingested their owner’s cocaine.
Echelbarger’s children have expressed their anguish, with her son Bill Rogers telling local media: “They gambled with people’s lives that day, and she paid the price.”
Her daughter, Earlene, added: “She was tortured and suffered. No one should have to go through that.”
The family is seeking compensatory damages exceeding $25,000, along with further punitive damages to be determined at trial.
A lawyer representing Adam Withers acknowledged the lawsuit but noted that his clients lack significant financial resources. Legal proceedings remain ongoing.
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