Ohio woman, son charged after 2 pit bulls maul elderly woman

ASHVILLE, Ohio — An Ashville woman and her son are facing criminal charges after police say their two pit bulls mauled a 73-year-old woman, killing her. The Columbus Dispatch report s Susan Ann Withers, 61, and her son, Adam Withers, 35, were arrested Monday. Each is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter.

Jo Echelbarger was killed in the incident last Thursday, police tell WBNS Channel 10 . Echelbarger reportedly was gardening outside her condominium when the two dogs broke loose from a nearby home and attacked, The Dispatch reports . Family members of Echelbarger said the dogs broke through a screen on a patio.



Echelbarger was pronounced dead at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center in Columbus. WBNS reports a police officer shot and killed one of the dogs. The other dog also died but it’s unclear how, WBNS reports.

Both defendants also are charged with one count of failure to restrain vicious dogs. Both were being held on a $55,000 bond, the Dispatch reports. Ashville is located in Pickaway County south of Columbus.

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