Current:Home > StocksMother fatally mauled by pack of dogs in Quitman, Georgia, 3 children taken to hospital -Visionary Wealth Guides
Mother fatally mauled by pack of dogs in Quitman, Georgia, 3 children taken to hospital
View
Date:2025-04-12 23:04:22
State and local officials in South Georgia are investigating a mauling involving pack of dogs that left a woman dead and sent her three children to a hospital less than 72 hours before Mother's Day.
Brooks County Sheriff’s Office deputies say they found 35-year-old Courtney Williams dead in the yard of a home in Quitman, a small city near the Florida-Georgia state line about 55 miles northwest of Tallahassee.
Officials did not say what breeds of dogs were involved in the attack, reported by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which took place late last week in the family's driveway as the children walked home from school, family told USA TODAY.
Man fatally mauled in NYC:Bronx dog owner mauled to death by his pit bull
Several aggressive dogs found on property
Preliminary information provided by the GBI revealed about 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, deputies responded to the home for a report of multiple minors being attacked by a dog.
“When deputies arrived, they encountered several aggressive dogs on the property,” the GBI wrote in a news release. “It was determined that an individual had already taken several minors to a local hospital.”
Deputies also located Williams’ body in the yard of the home.
Officials did not release the children's ages or their respective injuries.
USA TODAY has reached out to the GBI.
Dogs who attacked Courtney Williams belonged to neighbor, family said
Williams' sister-in-law, Crystal Cox told USA TODAY the dogs belonged to a neighbor who lives behind the home where Williams − a stay-at-home mom − lives with three of her children and her husband.
Cox said about a dozen dogs went after Williams' three children − a 10-year-old girl, a 12-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy − after they got off the school bus.
The 12-year-old boy pushed his sister out of harm's way, Cox said, the children's mother rushed out to help, and the 14-year-old ran for help and flagged down a man driving by.
"I'm not sure if he was picking up his own kids from school or was just driving by," Cox said. "To me he was an angel that was there at the right time."
Hit-and-run involving water-skier:Boater fatally strikes girl water-skiing in South Florida, flees scene, officials say
Hero passerby stopped and helped fight off dogs
The man, Cox said, got out and intervened with the dogs, saving the siblings' lives.
Their mother did not survive.
"No one was able to get to her because of the dogs," Cox said. "We are just glad the kids didn't see her," Cox said.
The middle child, 12-year-old boy, suffered serious injuries in the attack, according to Cox, but his siblings were not physically injured.
"He was hurt pretty bad," Cox wrote on Facebook in a post. "They stapled him up. He is in pain and at my house resting."
In a subsequent post, Cox posted pictures of one of the children's apparent injuries suffered in the attack.
"The other two are shook up and doing their best to handle everything," Cox said. "I will be forever grateful for the man that stopped and helped them."
New Mexico stepson arrested:Man accused of shooting stepmom at graduation as she tried to hug him
'An amazing mother' who always put family first
Cox described her sister-in-law as an amazing mother who always put family first.
"They had a Jacksonville beach trip planned before all this happened," Cox said. "She love going there with them."
Cox said the family was asking for privacy at this time.
Fatal mauling remains under investigation
An autopsy will be performed by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office to determine William's cause and manner of death, officials said.
Officials have not said whether any of the dogs involved were euthanized.
This case remained open on Monday.
Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Six Colombians held in assassination of Ecuador presidential candidate reported slain inside prison
- Sam Bankman-Fried directed financial crimes and lied about it, FTX co-founder testifies
- Doctor pleads not guilty to charges he sexually assaulted women he met on dating apps
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Why beating Texas this year is so important to Oklahoma and coach Brent Venables
- Georgia investigators lost and damaged evidence in Macon murder case, judge rules
- UNC professor killed in office was shot 7 times, medical examiner says
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Migrating Venezuelans undeterred by US plan to resume deportation flights
Ranking
- Trump's 'stop
- Videos show Ecuador police seize nearly 14 tons of drugs destined for U.S., Central America and Europe
- Georgia investigators lost and damaged evidence in Macon murder case, judge rules
- NFT creator wins multimillion-dollar lawsuit, paving the way for other artists
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Funerals held in Syria for dozens of victims killed in deadliest attack in years
- Police investigate the shooting death of man who often confronted alleged pedophiles
- Live updates | The Hamas attack on Israel
Recommendation
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Doctor who treated Morgan State shooting victim is gunshot survivor himself
Woman opens fire in Connecticut police department lobby, prompting exchange of gunfire with officer between bullet-proof glass
Jamie Foxx grieves actor, friend since college, Keith Jefferson: 'Everything hurts'
'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
Atlanta police officer arrested, charged with assaulting teen after responding to wreck
EU Mediterranean ministers call for more migrant repatriations and increased resources
Brothers Osborne say fourth album marks a fresh start in their country music journey: We've shared so much