Midwest
Ohio grandmother mauled to death by pit bulls while ‘peacefully gardening’: lawsuit
Warning: This story contains graphic content.
Two pit bulls that mauled an Ohio grandmother to death last year were left to roam freely despite their history of attacks, and even got into a stash of cocaine weeks before the incident, according to a newly-filed lawsuit.
Jo Ann Echelbarger, 73, was killed by a pair of pit bulls named Apollo and Echo, which were owned by suspects Susan and Adam Withers, on Oct. 17. The gruesome incident took place at The Reserve at Ashton Village, a residential complex in Ashville, Ohio.
According to a suit filed on behalf of Echelbarger’s family on Mar. 13, the decedent had only lived at the complex for a few months before she was killed. The two pit bulls “ran around the Reserve’s common areas, eventually attacking Jo Ann while she was peacefully gardening.”
“Part of Jo Ann’s harm was the extreme and severe conscious physical and mental pain and suffering she experienced in the moments before, during and after being viciously attacked and prior to her death,” the filing described. “Part of this was caught on some of the most gruesome videos one could ever envision.”
DOGS THAT KILLED ELDERLY SAN ANTONIO MAN ‘SNAPPED’ AFTER PET SERVICES VISIT, OWNER SAYS
Jo Ann Echelbarger, 73, was mauled to death by two pit bulls while “peacefully gardening,” according to a new lawsuit. (Handout / Google Maps)
The tragedy was made worse by Echelbarger’s life-long fear of dogs, the lawsuit noted. The dogs were later killed by police.
“The attack and last moments of Jo Ann’s life were particularly terrifying because Jo Ann feared dogs since she had previously been bitten by a dog as a child,” the lawsuit stated.
“In fact, the dogs were so aggressive and persistent in their menacing, violent, and aggressive behavior that the police were forced to shoot and kill the dogs to end the terror,” the suit described. “And even after bullets hit one of the dogs, it returned to Jo Ann and continued to attack before running back into the Withers’ home.”
According to the lawsuit, the October incident was not the first time the dogs had gotten into trouble. The document lists several violent or disruptive incidents involving the canines – including one Oct. 2023 incident where Apollo attacked a resident and killed their dog.
The Withers’ dogs were reportedly ordered to leave the community in a Sept. 11 court order that hadn’t been enforced, the lawsuit stated.
Three weeks before Echelbarger’s death, on Sept. 27, police were called to see the dogs because “Echo and Apollo had ingested Adam Withers’ cocaine.”
NEW YORK INFANT MAULED, KILLED BY DOGS IN ATTIC WHILE PARENTS SMOKED MARIJUANA: POLICE
Jo Ann Echelbarger, pictured in an undated photo with her husband, was attacked by two pit bulls named Echo and Apollo. (Handout / Adam Withers via Facebook)
“The body cam footage of the incident reveals that Ashville PD called the Warden’s Office to no avail,” the suit said.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Rex H. Elliott, the attorney representing Echelbarger’s family, accused the residential complex and the Pickaway County Dog Warden of neglect in the situation.
“The fact is that if the Dog Warden or Condo Association had done their jobs, Jo Ann Echelbarger would be alive today and her family would not have to live with this profound loss or the constant memory of the horrific nature in which she was killed,” Elliott said.
“These failures resulted in the death of a wonderful 73-year-old wife, mother and grandmother.”
Adam Withers and his mother, Susan Withers, were both arrested over the incident. (Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office)
Fox News Digital reached out to the attorneys representing the Withers, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Read the full article from Here
Troy Melton allowed one hit in six innings and the Detroit Tigers’ offense came alive late in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Dillon Dingler had two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs as Detroit won its second straight game after losing four of five.
Melton (4-0) gave up a homer to Sam Antonacci on his second pitch of the game but allowed only four more baserunners — on three walks and a hit batter. He struck out five while allowing two or fewer runs for the fourth time in five starts this season.
Two Tigers relievers finished, with Kenley Jansen pitching the ninth for his ninth save.
Sean Newcomb started Chicago’s bullpen game with three perfect innings, but Tyler Davis walked the bases loaded with two out in the fourth. Joe Rock came out of the White Sox bullpen and struck out pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones to loud boos from the Comerica Park crowd.
With a runner on first and two out in the fifth, Kevin McGonigle got Detroit’s first hit of the game — the first hit for either team since Antonacci’s leadoff homer.
Dillon Dingler followed with an RBI single off Rock (0-1) to tie the game.
Detroit took the lead in the sixth when Spencer Torkelson doubled and scored on James Outman’s single. Jake Rogers made it 3-1 later in the inning with an RBI single.
Chicago didn’t get its second hit until Braden Montgomery doubled off Tyler Holton with one out in the seventh.
Dingler hit his 17th homer in the seventh, giving Detroit a 4-1 lead.
Up next
The teams finish the series Sunday in what was originally scheduled to be Justin Verlander’s first start as a Tigers player in Detroit since 2017. His hamstring strain means RHP Keider Montero (3-5, 3.67) will come back from the bullpen to face RHP Davis Martin (9-3, 3.31).
While the Milwaukee Brewers continue their battle for NL Central supremacy, 2025 first-round selection Andrew Fischer is working his way up the minor leagues. Now the No. 6 ranked prospect in the team’s farm system, the third baseman posted a .311/.402/.446 slash line in 19 games with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Fischer’s recent performance warranted a promotion to the Double-A, where he is now competing as part of the Biloxi Shuckers. The 22-year-old is turning heads around the league, leading him to join Foul Territory TV for a recent interview about his experience in the Brewers’ farm system so far:
“The talent in here is unreal. I think that’s why the Brewers do such a good job of developing their guys, is they put you in environments where you’re literally competing every day with the best of the best,” Fischer explained. “For me, it’s going to make my batting practice sharper. It’s going to make my in-game reps sharper. It’s going to make our communication on the field sharper. It’s honestly really special what they have over here.”
Before diving into the specifics of what he discussed — this was a great first impression as someone who had never seen Fischer in an interview before! He’s well-spoken, he seems passionate, and he has a good sense of the value of the opportunities around him. As the Brewers search for answers at third base, he’ll certainly be in the back of GM Matt Arnold’s mind. If he can keep producing the way he has thus far, it won’t be a hard decision down the line.
But more importantly in the short-term, Fischer pinpointed the exact winning recipe that has been driving sustainable long-term success for the Brewers all decade.
Andrew Fischer just summed up one of the hardest lessons the Brewers organization has ever learned.
When you’re considered a small market in a league like the MLB where spending can equate to success, the only way to compete is to double down on what you’re good at. For the Milwaukee Brewers, that’s become scouting and development.
From rookies to reclamation projects, the Brewers help players find the best in themselves by simplifying the game, building good habits, and having players lead by example. As Fischer discussed, surrounding talented players with other like-minded individuals is a recipe for building sustainable growth. Those incremental steps toward success stack up until eventually, you’ve got a winning ballclub on your hands.
It starts with the front office, where GM Matt Arnold and the Brewers’ elite scouting team identify players with the traits that fit on and off the field. That trickles down to the managers and coaches, who see the potential in these players and use their expertise to draw it out of them. That, along with the camaraderie these players build along the way, is the recipe for a culture that could bring success to Milwaukee for many years to come.
Follow
A Minneapolis man is behind bars after stabbing a woman early Saturday morning.
According to the Minneapolis Police Department, officers responded to a stabbing around 12:30 a.m. near the intersection of W 24th St. and Pillsbury Avenue. Officers found an adult woman with a non-life-threatening injury consistent with an edged blade.
Authorities said a man known to the woman stabbed her after a verbal argument escalated.
Police arrested a 49-year-old man and is currently at the Hennepin County Jail, pending a second-degree domestic assault charge.
Police said no one else was hurt. The case remains under investigation.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, several resources are available to offer help. For immediate help, contact:
More than 12 million people just in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence every year, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
The organizations listed above can help connect victims to resources like safe shelter, advocacy, legal help and support groups.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers tips for identifying abuse and supporting victims of abuse. CLICK HERE to see those.
Other organizations that can help include:
Minnesota also has a list of many other resources for victims of crimes that can be found HERE.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoArmed home invasion in L.A.’s Fairfax District leaves resident assaulted
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoTigers top Chicago White Sox 4-1; Detroit pitcher Troy Melton allows 1 hit in 6 innings
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoMLB Rumors: Latest Intel on Potential Matt Chapman Trade for San Francisco Giants
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoDallas’ Fair Park to Get $2.5M Boost From McKesson – Dallas Weekly
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoAir quality alert in effect in Miami-Dade and Broward counties: National Weather Service
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoBoston Signs Big Blueliner Rylind MacKinnon To One-Year Extension
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoFire destroys home under construction in northwest Denver
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoWe can stop pretending that a suburban stadium would be better for soccer in Seattle
