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2007 Dog Bite Fatality: Cora Lee Suehead Attacked by Pit Bulls

Two Family Deaths Follow
UPDATE 07/18/08: Forensic tests have confirmed the cause of Cora Lee Suehead's death: four pit bulls. The 61-year old woman was found mauled to death near her home December 4th, 2007. The pit bulls were taken from her property and underwent DNA testing. The dogs belonged to a relative who had been living on the Suehead property. The dogs have since been destroyed; no charges were ever filed.

16 days after Cora's death, her 42-year old daughter, Tammy Cummins, was found dead in her Auburn home. It was believed to be a suicide. Now, for the third time in eight months, another death has touched the Suehead family. Walter Suehead, 70, Cora's husband, died of natural causes Sunday in an Auburn hospital. Officials for Chapel of the Hills in Auburn confirmed the report.

01/01/08: Still Determining Cause of Death
Placer County, CA - 61-year old Cora Lee Suehead was found mauled to death by animals near her home on December 4th, 2007. It is suspected that her pit bulls are to blame. Four of the pit bulls were removed from her property and underwent DNA sampling. Authorities know the dogs attacked her, but they cannot determine if they attacked her before or after she died.

A veterinarian commented: "At this point, there is nothing to indicate that animals contributed to her death. But there is certainly evidence that animals damaged her body after death." So far, local autopsy results have proven inconclusive. Officials now must send samples to the Department of Justice and toxicology. It may take two months to get the results.

In a related tragedy, 16 days later, 42-year old Tammy Cummins was found dead in her Auburn, California home. Tammy was Cora's daughter. Close friends said Cummins may have been despondent over the death of her mother. A toxicology report on Cummins will not be available for a few weeks. As it stands, causes for both deaths are unknown.

Related articles:
02/22/08: Placer County Woman's Death Still A Mystery
12/22/07: Family's Second Mystery Death in Month
12/07/07: Foreshill Woman's Autopsy is 'Inconclusive'
12/06/07: Dogs May Have Killed Placer County Woman

Labels: 2007 Dog Bite Fatality, California Pit Bull Fatality