Lake Tillery, NC – A 66-year-old North Carolina woman was killed Aug. 9 when it is believed she was attacked by two dogs while she was taking a walk.
The woman was found after she went on her customary walk in her lakefront neighborhood and never returned, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Chris Watkins, according to a press release.
After the woman was missing for several hours, the woman’s husband along with others searched the area but couldn’t find the woman. They called the police, who located the woman on the side of an unused road in the neighborhood, according to The News & Observer.
There was an investigation that included the Medical Examiner’s Office, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and Animal Control officials that determined the woman was attacked by dogs, according to Sheriff Watkins.
Officials searched the neighborhood and located two pit bulls and physical evidence that showed the dogs were involved in the attack of the woman, the police said.
The dogs were placed into quarantine and the dogs’ owner cooperated with authorities, according to WSOC-TV.
“The owner agreed for the dogs to be euthanized so they could be forensically examined to see if they suffered from rabies,” Sheriff Watkins said Saturday in an interview with The News & Observer.
Sheriff Watkins said that medical examiners also wanted to study the animals’ jaw sizes.
“This is a very tragic event, which has deeply affected the family, friends, deputies and first responders,” Sheriff Watkins said in the press release according to The News & Observer. “Our thoughts and prayers are being extended to all.”
The case remains a death investigation and is not a criminal investigation, according to Sheriff Watkins.
The District Attorney’s Office is still reviewing the attack, according to the Springfield News-Sun.
Police didn’t release the name of the victim.
