A mother from Northern California was mauled to death by dogs on a walking trail where a pack of 25 Great Danes was unrestrained, authorities said.
Davina Corbin, 56, was discovered dead by a neighbor on Blackhawk Trail in Feather Falls shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
Corbin had “numerous bite marks and injuries” on her body, and her clothing was coated in DNA from domestic dogs. According to the office, a medical examiner confirmed her death to be the result of a domestic dog attack.
She was discovered in front of a property on the trail where 25 Great Danes were allowed to roam, according to the sheriff.
Investigators acquired a search warrant and “spent the entire day capturing” the stray dogs, who were taken into the custody of Butte County Animal Control.
The animals’ DNA will be compared to the DNA recovered from Corbin’s clothing and body to establish which dog or dogs attacked her, according to the sheriff’s office.
Corbin’s sudden death was described by neighbors as a tragedy that could have been avoided completely.
Max Heckler, who lives along the walking trail, stated that he and other neighbors have reported the unruly dogs to Butte County Animal Control on several occasions.
“Nothing’s been done about it until now,” he told KCRA. “Wait until someone is murdered by those dogs. That is a tragedy that should never have occurred.”
He claimed to have nearly evaded the huge dogs himself.
“The Great Danes, they come across the road here at me,” laughed Heckler. “I jumped in the car and left.”
He said that animal control should have handled the situation when it received the first contact.
“What I’m arguing is that animal control is just as responsible for the death as the dogs. “They did nothing about any of this,” he told the news outlet. That is what I’m upset about. “That lady should not have died.”
Butte County Animal Control reported receiving two calls concerning loose dogs, as well as worries about the animals’ health and diet, but no instances of aggressiveness, according to NYPOST.
Corbin resided near the Blackhawk Trail and frequently walked along it, according to residents. Investigators suspect she was strolling along the route when the dogs attacked her.
Her family has started a fundraising website to help cover funeral expenses.
“We’re struggling to come to terms with this loss and need help saying goodbye,” her son Justin Corbin said on the GoFundMe campaign.
The inquiry is still ongoing, thus no charges have been brought as of Tuesday.