According to the lawsuit, his Ohio grandmother was killed by his neighbor, Pitbulls.
According to court documents, 73-year-old Joann Echelbarger, 73, was torn apart by pit bulls, echoes and Apollo in October and “peacefully gardened” as he roamed freely around the common area of the Ashton Mansion.
Strictly suffering from dementia and in a wheelchair, her husband Stanley watched his wife under attack for several minutes while her wife was “screaming her life.”
“She didn't deserve this. She was tortured and she suffered,” said Alyne Romeen, daughter of Echelberger. He told ABC 6.
“This is not what you expect your parents to experience. This is not what you expect to happen to someone you love.”
The dog later tested positive for cocaine, according to a court filing. Their owner, Adam Wizards and his mother, Susan, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Echelberger's death last month, court records show.
“Why don't you see them as villains responsible for killing your mom?” Bill Rogers, the son of the dead woman, told ABC 6.
The family is now suing the owners, as well as the mother's apartment association and the county dog guard, accusing them of negligence and failing to act on several risk flags regarding the behaviour of the withered person and dog.
This included police body camera footage showing officers responding to reports of Echo and Apollo taking Adam Wizards cocaine a few weeks before the horrific, deadly attack, the lawsuit allegedly.
According to the submission, the officer expressed his dissatisfaction with the dog guard not responding.
Pitbulls were allowed to live in apartments even after the withered people failed to comply with the orders they expel, the lawsuit alleges.
Instead, Adam allegedly cited social media posts, including those who said “humans are the problem,” and violated building management, which he stumbled upon.
“Never ask the owner of a pit bull to choose between you and their pit bull, because they choose and it's not you,” the Facebook post read.
“It's reckless,” Eschelberger's son, Bill Rogers, told the outlet.
“It feels like they're gambling with a lot of people that day. She was the one who paid the price,” he said.
The Illegal Deathsuit seeks compensation in excess of $25,000 along with punitive damages.
“We are looking for justice,” said Rex Elliott, a family lawyer, who said local governments “have a responsibility to bring those dogs.”
