Ohio grandmother’s family files lawsuit after fatal pit bull attack

The tragic incident involving the mauling of Ohio grandmother Jo Ann Echelbarger by two pit bulls named Apollo and Echo has left a family devastated and seeking justice. Despite the dogs’ history of attacks and disruptive behavior, they were allowed to roam freely in the residential complex where the fatal attack took place.

Echelbarger, 73, had only been living at The Reserve at Ashton Village for a few months before she was viciously attacked while peacefully gardening. The horrifying event was captured on video, showing the extreme physical and mental pain she endured before her death.

What makes the situation even more heartbreaking is that Echelbarger had a lifelong fear of dogs, stemming from a childhood incident where she was bitten. The dogs, owned by Susan and Adam Withers, were eventually shot and killed by police in an effort to end the relentless attack.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Echelbarger’s family revealed that the dogs had a history of violence, including a previous incident where Apollo attacked a resident and killed their dog. Despite a court order for the dogs to leave the community, it was not enforced.

In a disturbing turn of events, three weeks before the fatal attack, police were called to the Withers’ home because the dogs had ingested cocaine. Body cam footage from the incident showed the desperate attempts to control the aggressive dogs.

Attorney Rex H. Elliott, representing Echelbarger’s family, pointed out the negligence of the residential complex and the Pickaway County Dog Warden in failing to prevent the tragedy. If proper action had been taken, Echelbarger would still be alive today, and her family would not be grappling with the profound loss and trauma of her brutal death.

Adam and Susan Withers, the owners of the dogs, were arrested in connection with the incident. Despite multiple attempts to reach their attorneys for a response, no comment was received.

The devastating loss of Jo Ann Echelbarger serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible pet ownership and the need for authorities to enforce regulations to protect the safety of residents. The family is seeking justice for their loved one and hoping that steps will be taken to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.