Elderly Woman Fatally Attacked by Cocaine-Infused Pit Bulls: Lawsuit
March 16, 2025 by David Jones
In a distressing event in Ohio, a 73-year-old woman lost her life after being brutally attacked by her neighbor’s pit bulls, which were later found to have cocaine in their system, according to a lawsuit. JoAnn Echelbarger was attending to her garden in the shared spaces of her Ashton condominium in October when the dogs, Echo and Apollo, launched their assault.
Stanley Echelbarger, JoAnn’s husband, who is suffering from dementia and is confined to a wheelchair, could only witness the horrifying scene as his wife was savagely attacked for several minutes. The lawsuit claims that one of the dogs continued the attack even after police officers fired shots to stop the assault.
Earlene Romine, Echelbarger’s daughter, shared her grief and shock over the horrific incident. She expressed her disbelief at the tragic circumstances of her mother’s death, stating that no one should have to endure such a brutal attack.
Investigations following the incident revealed that both dogs had cocaine in their systems. The dogs’ owners, Adam Withers and his mother, Susan, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Echelbarger’s death last month, according to court records.
Bill Rogers, the victim’s son, expressed his anger towards the dog owners, questioning their responsibility in his mother’s death. The family has initiated a lawsuit against the dog owners, the condominium association, and the county dog warden, accusing them of negligence and overlooking several warning signs about the dogs’ behavior.
The lawsuit also refers to an incident that took place just weeks before the fatal attack. Police body camera footage revealed officers responding to reports that Echo and Apollo had consumed Adam Withers’ cocaine. The lawsuit alleges that the dog warden was unresponsive to the situation.
Despite the Withers’ failure to comply with an order to remove the dogs from the condominium, the pit bulls were allowed to stay. The lawsuit also accuses Adam Withers of mocking building management through social media posts.
The family is seeking more than $25,000 in compensatory damages and punitive damages through a wrongful death suit. Rex Elliot, the family’s attorney, stated that they are seeking justice and emphasized that local authorities had a duty to remove the dogs from the premises.