23-year-old college student in Texas dies after being attacked by three pit bulls she was caring for.

Texas College Student Killed in Dog Attack

A tragic incident unfolded in Tyler, Texas, where a college student was killed while pet-sitting three pit bulls. The victim, Madison Riley, 23, was found dead in a backyard on Friday afternoon, prompting shock and grief from her family.

According to reports, a neighbor dialed 911 after witnessing the attack. Officers from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office arrived to find the three dogs had already turned on Riley. In an effort to intervene, a deputy shot one of the dogs, which ultimately led to its death.

Riley’s mother, Jennifer Hubbell, expressed her devastation, noting how everything seemed fine until shortly before the attack. She mentioned that her daughter had noticed a significant “change” in the dogs’ behavior, which she had described as unusual. “She said it wasn’t always like that,” Hubbell recalled, still trying to understand what went wrong.

An avid animal lover and experienced dog sitter, Riley had been caring for the family’s children in addition to the dogs. Her mother believed taking care of the pit bulls would be manageable, but that turned out to be far from the truth. Sadly, the homeowner wasn’t home at the time, leaving Riley alone with the dogs.

Madison was just six months away from graduating from the University of Texas at Tyler, where she was pursuing a degree in early childhood education. She was inspired to focus on this field partly due to her younger brother’s experience with autism. “Students from kindergarten to high school seniors adored her. She had a talent for making all children feel safe, special, and loved,” her mother shared in a GoFundMe post honoring her memory.