Dog Owner Faked Heart Attack During Arrest Days After Pets Mauled Woman to Death: Police

A 29-year-old woman, Linda Cutler, has been charged with manslaughter following a tragic incident in Cocoa, Florida, where her dogs allegedly killed a 50-year-old neighbour, Jodi Cowan. The event has raised significant concern over responsible pet ownership and public safety.

The attack occurred on May 19 when Cowan was walking her dog near her home. Cutler’s two dogs, Max and Mako, reportedly escaped their enclosure and assaulted Cowan. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey described the ferocity of the attack, indicating that the dogs knocked Cowan to the ground and dragged her for some distance while viciously mauling her.

Witness accounts have revealed the harrowing scene. Cowan’s partner, Donnell Smith, rushed to her aid after hearing her screams. He attempted to fend off the dogs with a knife and later found Cowan lying in a pool of blood. Despite immediate medical attention, Cowan succumbed to her injuries about four hours after the attack.

During the ongoing investigation, authorities uncovered a sworn statement from Cutler in which she confessed to being aware that her dogs frequently escaped from the yard. Sheriff Ivey claimed that Cutler had previously received reports that the dogs had displayed aggressive behaviour and had bitten someone else in the past. In her statement, she acknowledged installing an additional fence but admitted that it had multiple holes, enabling her dogs to escape.

At the time of the incident, Cutler was staying at a nearby hotel, and law enforcement had responded to a separate disturbance involving her during her stay. When approached by police following the fatal attack, Cutler reportedly pretended to have a heart attack to avoid arrest. Following medical clearance, she was taken into custody.

The sheriff’s comments during the arrest highlighted the gravity of the situation. In body camera footage, Ivey informed Cutler that due to her negligence, a woman had died and her dogs were to be euthanised. The community has expressed outrage, given the background of prior incidents concerning Cutler’s dogs roaming the neighbourhood and previous complaints about their behaviour. Some neighbours had reported the dogs being loose but described them as non-aggressive.

However, one past biting incident did end in a complaint, yet the alleged victim did not cooperate with investigators, showing the complexities that law enforcement faces in such cases. These past events have raised questions about the effectiveness of animal control interventions and the responsibilities of pet owners in managing their animals effectively.

As the community mourns Cowan’s death, there is a heightened focus on the issues surrounding dangerous dogs and responsible ownership. Debate has begun regarding potential legislative changes to hold pet owners more accountable for incidents of this nature.

Cutler’s case will proceed through the judicial system, as she faces serious charges stemming from the event. The fate of her dogs, Max and Mako, remains uncertain, but Sheriff Ivey has indicated that they are expected to be euthanised, which is a common protocol following such attacks to prevent future tragedies.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of diligent pet ownership, community awareness, and the need for effective measures to ensure public safety in relation to potentially dangerous animals. As the investigation continues, many in the Cocoa community hope that lessons will be learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.