A mother was attacked and killed by a pack of 25 Great Danes she let roam loose on a Northern California walking trail, authorities said.
The badly bitten body of Davina Corbin, 56, was discovered by a neighbor just before 2 a.m. Thursday on Blackhawk Trail in Feather Falls. Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
Corbin’s body had “numerous bite marks and wounds” and his clothing had DNA that matched that of the family dog, and the coroner determined that Corbin’s cause of death was an attack by the family dog, police said.
She was found in front of a home along the trail where 25 Great Danes roamed free, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators obtained a search warrant and “spent the entire day” capturing the loose dog, which they then took into custody of Butte County Animal Control.
The sheriff’s office said they will compare the animal’s DNA with DNA taken from Corbin’s clothing and body to determine which dog attacked her.
Neighbours said Corbin’s untimely death was a tragedy that was 100% preventable.
Max Heckler, who lives near the walking trail, said he and other neighbors have reported the unruly dogs to Butte County Animal Control multiple times.
“Nothing has been done so far,” he said. He told local station KCRA.“Wait until those dogs kill someone. It’s a tragedy that should never have happened.”
He himself once narrowly escaped a large dog.
“A Great Dane came across the road coming towards me,” Heckler said. “I jumped in my car and left.”
He said animal control should have addressed the issue when they received the initial call.
“My point is, animal control is as much to blame for that death as the dogs themselves. They did nothing about it,” he told the news station.
“That’s why I’m angry. That woman should not have died.”
Butte County Animal Control received two calls about loose dogs and concerns about the animals’ health and diet, but said there had been no reports of aggressive behavior, according to KCRA.
Residents said Corbin lived near the Blackhawk Trail and often walked there, and investigators believe she was walking on the trail when she was attacked by the dog.
Her family has set up a fundraising page to help cover funeral expenses.
“We are struggling to come to terms with this loss and need help saying goodbye,” her son Justin Corbin wrote on the GoFundMe page.
No charges had been filed by Tuesday because the investigation is ongoing.
