Honk News (Pickaway County, OH) – A mother and son have been convicted of involuntary manslaughter after their two dogs attacked and killed an elderly neighbor.
On Thursday, Feb. 13, a jury in Pickaway County, Ohio found Susan Withers and her son Adam Withers guilty after approximately six hours of deliberation, as reported from the courtroom. Two individuals have been found guilty of confining, restraining, and debarking dogs.
Officials reported that on October 17, 2024, two pit bulls belonging to a mother and son escaped from their condo in Asheville, Ohio, and tragically attacked Jo Ann Echelbarger, 73, while she was gardening next door.
Authorities reported that an officer fatally shot one of the dogs after it displayed aggression towards him. A second dog got away and attacked another dog, then returned home where the police shot it.
The pit bull was labeled a dangerous dog in October 2023 following the incident where it killed a neighbor’s dog. According to reports, Adam pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge just weeks before Echelbarger’s death, as police discovered him behaving erratically with the dogs.
Lawyers representing the mother and son argued that there was not enough evidence or testimony to demonstrate that their clients had released the dogs from the house. Susan and Adam will receive their sentences at a future date.
“My office is hopeful that these convictions will allow the family of Jo Ann Echelbarger to find some peace,” Pickaway County Prosecutor Jayme Hartley Fountain said in a statement shared on Tuesday, Feb. 18. “We are very thankful for the work law enforcement put into this case to aid our office in obtaining the convictions.”
Echelbarger was a financial expert and dedicated blood donor, who “enjoyed preserving keepsakes of her family’s accomplishments,” according to her obituary. Her husband, children, and other family members are left behind.
Read More – Dog Euthanized after Florida Man Mauled to Death by Neighbor’s Aggressive Dog: Sheriff’s Office
Following the verdict, lawyers representing Echelbarger’s estate, which is pursuing a civil case, stated, “we must recognize that this tragedy should never have happened in the first place,” as reported.
“The failure to intervene cost Jo Ann Echelbarger her life,” the attorneys added. “We demand accountability beyond this courtroom to prevent another senseless loss.”