An elderly woman who suffered from dementia was tragically mauled to death by a pack of dogs in a horror attack in rural Colorado, US, with shocking moments leading to the attack
A mum who suffered from dementia was savagely killed by dogs in a gruesome attack, with horrific moments leading up to the shocking incident. Her daughter was taken into custody after two dozen dogs were found at her residence, with reports alleging she had left her elderly mother at home alone with them while she ‘ran errands’.
Police attended the scene in rural Colorado, US, and discovered around two dozen dogs owned by 47-year-old Jessica Hoff at the home, many of which were severely underfed and kept in “unsanitary conditions.” After finding LaVonne Hoff, 76, deceased at the scene, detectives went on to search a second property, where they uncovered additional dogs, raising the total count to 54.
Authorities reported that Hoff had left her mother unattended at the home when she went out to run errands in Pueblo city, despite her mother’s need for constant care. During her absence, it is believed that a number of the dogs attacked and killed her mother, as per the investigation findings.
It was noted that the dogs were previously allowed to roam freely within the house before the tragic event on February 3.
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A grim report from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office read: “Deputies responded to the residence in the 4800 block of Jefferson Blvd on February 3 on a report of an unconscious woman. When they arrived, they found LaVonne Hoff, 76, unresponsive and several dogs running loose in the home and another approximately two dozen dogs and seven birds in cages in the home. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Autopsy results determined LaVonne Hoff’s death was attributed to the dog attack.”
The statement continued to shed light on the tragic circumstances: “Sheriff’s detectives conducted an extensive investigation and learned that Jessica Hoff had left her mother at home alone with her dogs that day while she went to Pueblo to run errands. LaVonne Hoff reportedly had dementia and required 24-hour care. Detectives learned that while LaVonne Hoff was left alone, she was attacked by the dogs that were loose in the home.”
Further horrifying details were released as the statement added: “Detectives executed a search warrant on the home and a second property Jessica Hoff had in Colorado City and located a total of 54 dogs and the seven birds in her possession. The dogs and birds were found living in unsanitary conditions and several of the dogs were in poor health. The Sheriff’s Office worked with Animal Law Enforcement to seize the dogs and the birds.”
The mother was declared dead at the scene, and an autopsy later confirmed that her death was due to a dog attack. Hoff, hailing from Colorado City, is now facing charges of criminal negligence leading to the death of an at-risk adult and 54 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
Animal control took possession of the dogs and several birds that were also found at the second site. Hoff was apprehended on Friday, 21 March, and is currently detained at Pueblo County jail.
