A lawsuit revealed that an Ohio grandmother, JoAnn Echelbarger, was fatally attacked by her neighbor’s pit bulls, Echo and Apollo. The dogs were later discovered to be under the influence of cocaine at the time of the incident. JoAnn, 73, was gardening peacefully when the unleashed pit bulls savagely attacked her in the common areas of her Ashton condominium. Despite her husband Stanley’s dementia and wheelchair-bound state, he witnessed the horrifying attack as JoAnn screamed for her life. Even when law enforcement intervened and fired shots, one of the dogs continued the onslaught.
JoAnn’s daughter, Earlene Romine, expressed the family’s anguish, stating that her mother endured torture and undeserved suffering. The pit bulls tested positive for cocaine following the tragic event. The owners, Adam Withers and his mother Susan, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with JoAnn’s death. The family is pursuing legal action against the dog owners, the condominium association, and the county dog warden, alleging negligence and failure to address warning signs about the dangerous behavior of the dogs and their owners.
The lawsuit highlights instances where the authorities were alerted to the erratic behavior of the pit bulls, including ingesting cocaine, prior to the fatal attack. Despite orders to remove the dogs and concerns raised by law enforcement, the Witherses defied regulations, with Adam provocatively challenging building management. The family seeks justice and accountability through a wrongful death lawsuit, aiming for compensatory and punitive damages, stressing the need for accountability in ensuring public safety.
