After deadly canine assault, mother and son get greater than 10 years amid push for proprietor penalties

An Ohio mom and son have been sentenced to greater than a decade in jail after their two pit bulls fatally mauled a 73-year-old neighbor.

Susan and Adam Withers’ two canine, Apollo and Echo, received out of their rental by means of a entrance door with a damaged latch and violently attacked Jo Ann Echelbarger. In February, a Pickaway County jury convicted them of felony involuntary manslaughter and violations of the state’s canine legal guidelines.

The Witherses have been sentenced to 14 to 19½ years in jail and may apply for judicial launch after a decade.

“I want I may provide you with extra,” Pickaway County Widespread Pleas Court docket Choose Matthew Chafin informed them. Chafin really helpful that they by no means be allowed to personal pets once they get out.

It seemingly marks the longest legal sentence for a canine assault in state historical past. The Echelbarger case was featured in a nine-month investigation printed by The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository, all a part of the USA TODAY Community. The investigation revealed how harmful canine assaults throughout Ohio trigger disfigurement, amputations, psychological trauma and loss of life.

Throughout the nation, canine have bitten, mauled and killed an growing variety of folks lately. Nationwide, 1 million of the folks bitten by canine require medical therapy every year. Youngsters underneath 10 account for almost half of chunk victims and are overrepresented in fatalities. Consultants say extra should be performed to save lots of lives, however precisely easy methods to cease the rising variety of canine assaults has grow to be a particularly divisive difficulty.

In Ohio, Pickaway County Prosecutor Jayme Fountain stated the prolonged sentence will most likely be appealed.

What occurred through the canine assault?

Echelbarger had been working in a backyard plot on a patio between her rental and the Withers’ rental in October 2024. Her 84-year-old husband who suffered from dementia and Parkinson’s illness, witnessed the mauling from the screened-in porch.

“The best way that she died, it was heinous. She was absolutely acutely aware. She was terrorized. She suffered and knew it the complete time,” her son, Invoice Rogers, on the sentencing. “So, I will be fairly straight with you: there is no such thing as a gap deep or darkish sufficient. There is no such thing as a hell sizzling sufficient. There is no such thing as a penalty harsh sufficient.”

After shedding his spouse and residential, Stanley Echelbarger, moved to a nursing dwelling close to Columbus. He died in March.

“This ended his will to stay,” Rogers stated.

The Echelbarger household filed a civil lawsuit in opposition to Pickaway County Canine Warden Preston Schumacher, the rental affiliation and property supervisor and the Withers. County officers declined to touch upon the civil lawsuit.

Man charged after canine kill neighbor: He is additionally linked to a separate homicide case.

‘A criminal offense of inaction’

Fountain, the prosecutor, requested for 12 years of jail time. Protection lawyer Peter Scranton really helpful 4 years for Adam Withers. Protection lawyer Lisa Tome really helpful fewer than 5 years in jail for Susan Withers, 62, saying she was much less liable for the loss of life than her son.

“It’s a crime of inaction,” she stated. “It is a failure.”

At the moment, violations of Ohio’s canine legal guidelines are misdemeanors, punishable with fines that begin at $25 and restrictions for dealing with the canine sooner or later. In uncommon instances, prosecutors can search felony costs if data present prior vicious or harmful habits from the canine that later kills an individual.

One of many canine that killed Echelbarger had beforehand been designated as a harmful canine after it attacked one other rental resident, Kimberlee Black, and killed her pet in October 2023.

Underneath Ohio regulation, the Witherses didn’t must put their canine down after the assault on Black. As a substitute, they have been ticketed and required to purchase a harmful canine tag, publish an indication on their property, hold the canine confined and stroll him on a muzzle and quick, chain leash.

Susan Withers obtained the canine tag 271 days after the assault on Black. At trial, police testified that the Withers’ entrance door did not latch and a towel had been jammed into an area that beforehand had a deadbolt.

Regulation enforcement shot and killed each canine within the aftermath of the Echelbarger mauling.

Susan Withers, showing in courtroom in handcuffs and ankle chains, stated “I’m simply sorry that every one this occurred.”

At sentencing, Chafin famous that the Witherses confirmed little regret and Susan Withers solely cried when proven police video of her pit bulls being shot and listening to an outline of her third canine being held on the pound. The decide stated neither confirmed emotion towards their neighbor.

Observe State authorities reporter Laura Bischoff on X @lbischoff. 

This text initially appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Canine assault loss of life spurs 10-year minimal sentence amid push on penalties