A woman found dead on a trail in Northern California was killed in a domestic dog attack, and authorities say that a pack of 25 Great Danes were seen "running loose in the area" at the time.
The body of Davina Corbin, 56, of Feather Falls was found by a resident shortly before 2 a.m. on Aug. 8 on Blackhawk Trail in a remote rural area of Butte County, around a mile east of Lake Oroville. Deputies responding to the scene obtained a warrant for nearby residence, where they found the dogs.
"Deputies and detectives spent the entire day capturing the dogs, who were running loose in the area," the Butte County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
An autopsy found numerous dog bites on Corbin, and a subsequent DNA test confirmed that she was the victim of a domestic dog attack. The sheriff's department said it believes Corbin was walking the trail when she was attacked. DNA analysis of Corbin's clothing is seeking to determine which dog, or dogs, bit her, and KCRA reports that none of the animals have yet been euthanized.
A neighbor on Blackhawk Trail told KCRA that the pack of Great Danes has been a problem for years. "They came across the road here at me," Max Hecker said. "So I jumped in the car and left." He said that he and other neighbors called Butte County Animal Control numerous times to complain about the dogs, including on the day before the deadly attack. "Nothing has been done about it until now," Hecker told the outlet. "... That's a tragedy that should never have happened."
When asked if any charges have been brought against the dogs' owner, the sheriff's department told SFGATE on Tuesday that they are still investigating the case. "Once completed, the entire investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review," a spokesperson said.
The body of Davina Corbin, 56, of Feather Falls was found by a resident shortly before 2 a.m. on Aug. 8 on Blackhawk Trail in a remote rural area of Butte County, around a mile east of Lake Oroville. Deputies responding to the scene obtained a warrant for nearby residence, where they found the dogs.
"Deputies and detectives spent the entire day capturing the dogs, who were running loose in the area," the Butte County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
An autopsy found numerous dog bites on Corbin, and a subsequent DNA test confirmed that she was the victim of a domestic dog attack. The sheriff's department said it believes Corbin was walking the trail when she was attacked. DNA analysis of Corbin's clothing is seeking to determine which dog, or dogs, bit her, and KCRA reports that none of the animals have yet been euthanized.
A neighbor on Blackhawk Trail told KCRA that the pack of Great Danes has been a problem for years. "They came across the road here at me," Max Hecker said. "So I jumped in the car and left." He said that he and other neighbors called Butte County Animal Control numerous times to complain about the dogs, including on the day before the deadly attack. "Nothing has been done about it until now," Hecker told the outlet. "... That's a tragedy that should never have happened."
When asked if any charges have been brought against the dogs' owner, the sheriff's department told SFGATE on Tuesday that they are still investigating the case. "Once completed, the entire investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review," a spokesperson said.
