A California owner of four pit bulls was charged with murder on Thursday after his dogs mauled Pamela Devitt, 63, to death.
Devitt, a retired office manager, was going for a morning walk in her neighborhood when she suffered 150 to 200 puncture wounds in the gruesome attack. According to the Los Angeles Times, "when the first sheriff's deputy arrived on the scene in the Antelope Valley town of Littlerock, he saw Devitt on the ground with one of the dogs still mauling her."
Numerous reports say Alex Jackson, 29, was charged after DNA tests on his pit bulls found blood on their muzzles and coats that matched that of the victims.
District attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison told The Times that authorities had received multiple reports, estimating about three total, of attacks by dogs belonging to Jackson since January.
"We believe there was evidence that he was aware the dogs were vicious and they have attacked before and he knew of the danger they posed," Robison told The Times.
Sheriff's authorities told Fox News a driving passerby who saw the pit bulls attacking Devitt called 911 and honked her horn to try to get the dogs to stop.
When authorities arrived, a single dog was attacking Devut and the officer tried to chase the pit bull off, Lt. John Corina told Fox News. The officer succeeded but the pit bull eventually turned around and attacked the deputy who attempted to shot the dog before it ran off.
"There's no way I can get the brutality of this out of my head," Devitt's husband, Ben Devitt, told The Times. "The fact that there's animals out there roaming around with that kind of killer instinct, it's just kind of something I can't shake."
Animal control officials served Jackson with a warrant after that attack and took away his six pit bulls and two mixed-breeds.
Reportedly, Jackson's warrant charges him with owner negligence of an animal causing death. He also faces charges of growing marijuana.
According to Fox News, Jackson was originally arrested after the May 9 death of Devitt. He was released on bail pending DNA testing to determine if his dogs carried out the attack. He is being held on $1 million bail and was scheduled for arraignment Friday.
The victim's husband told KCAL-TV he believes Jackson is solely responsible for the attack.
"I do not blame the dogs. I don't blame pit bulls," Ben Devitt told KCAL-TV. "I blame people who don't take responsibility for their animals."
