An 86-year-old Oklahoma woman, Beatrice Carruth, died Thursday evening from injuries sustained in a violent dog attack, according to KFOR News. The dog, identified by shelter staff as a crossbreed of Labrador retriever and American pit bull terrier, was euthanized four days later.
The incident occurred at Carruth's home in Moore, Oklahoma, around 5:45 p.m. on July 2. First responders found Carruth bleeding on the floor with severe injuries, including a severed arm. Life-saving measures were initiated before paramedics arrived and transported her to a hospital, where she later died.
Carruth had been caring for the dog while her son, Jason Clay Ingram, was incarcerated at the Cleveland County Detention Center. Family members told KFOR News that Ingram had pressured his mother into keeping the animal despite its alleged history of aggression. Court records indicate Ingram was arrested in May for allegedly choking his mother and cutting telephone lines as she attempted to call 911. Days after that arrest, the dog reportedly attacked Carruth again, resulting in a two-day hospitalization.
The Moore Police Department confirmed that no criminal investigation is underway, stating that no criminal activity was involved in the incident. The department extended its condolences to those affected by the tragedy.
In the United States, an estimated 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs annually, with approximately 800,000 to 885,000 requiring medical attention. On average, about 43 people die from dog attacks each year. A study published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery noted that between 2005 and 2019, pit bulls were responsible for 345 of the 522 dog-related fatalities in the U.S., accounting for roughly two-thirds of all deaths. The study also found that over half of dogs involved in serious attacks were known to their victims, with 53 percent belonging to the family at the time of the incident.