A 64-year old woman was killed by two pit bulls at a Lake Tillery development.
Victim Identified
UPDATE 08/27/18: The woman mauled to death by two pit bulls at a Lake Tillery development on August 9 has been identified by authorities. Olga Rekhson, 64-years old, was the victim of the fatal dog attack, according to Capt. Kelsey Brown with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Rekhson was taking her daily walk at the time. When she did not return home after several hours, her husband and friends began searching for her. Unable to locate her, they called 911.
Within hours, she was discovered deceased on the side of an unused road within the development. An investigation conducted with the assistance of the Medical Examiner's Office, NC Wildlife Resources Commission and Animal Control revealed Rekhson had been attacked by dogs. "Law enforcement searched the neighborhood and located two pit bull dogs with physical evidence reflecting the dog's involvement," states a news release from the sheriff's office.
08/17/18: Victim Still Unidentified
Over a week after a woman was mauled to death by two pit bulls in a Lake Tillery development, neither the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office or the sheriff’s office will release the victim's name. Authorities also did not release the location of the attack; Lake Tillery has multiple developments and is over 10 miles in length. Three days ago, a person on the Montgomery Herald's Facebook post said the deadly attack occurred in the Holiday Shores community.
A spokesman with the district attorney's office told the Courier-Tribune Friday that her death is still under investigation. An August 10 statement by Montgomery County Sheriff Chris Watkins specified the "owner of the dogs is cooperating with officials" and characterized the fatal pit bull mauling as a "tragic event." Watkins also specified last Saturday that the case remained a death investigation, not a criminal one. So, why the release of her name has been delayed is unclear.
08/10/18: Pit Bulls Kill Woman
Troy, NC - Montgomery County Sheriff Chris Watkins released a statement Friday about a 66-year old woman mauled to death by two pit bulls in a Lake Tillery development on the western side of the county. She was discovered "deceased on the side of an unused road within the development." Two pit bull dogs "with physical evidence reflecting the dog's involvement" were located and taken into custody by animal control. The victim's name has not been released.
Google Maps shows that there is only one substantial development on the eastern shore of Lake Tillery. The woman was taking her daily walk when it came to a violent end -- she was horribly struck down by two loose pit bulls. The inclusion of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission in the investigation may have been due to excluding the possibility the attacker was a wild animal. This 66-year old female victim is the 545th person mauled to death by a pit bull in the United States.
On Thursday, August 9, 2018, a resident of a Lake Tillery development on the western side of Montgomery County went missing while taking her daily walk. After several hours the 66 year old female did not return home. Her husband called neighbors and friends who searched the area. They were unable to locate her and call 911. Sheriff's deputies and search and rescue were sent to the scene. Within hours she was discovered deceased on the side of an unused road within the development. An investigation was conducted with the assistance of the Medical Examiner's Office, NC Wildlife Resources Commission and Animal Control. The investigation revealed she had been attacked by dogs. Law enforcement searched the neighborhood and located two pit bull dogs with physical evidence reflecting the dog's involvement. The animals were taken into custody by Animal Control and are being quarantined. The owner of the dogs is cooperating with officials and the matter is still under investigation and review by the District Attorney's Office. The name of the victim is being withheld until family members can be notified. The victim is being sent to the NC Medical Examiner's Office in Raleigh for an autopsy. "This is a very tragic event, which has deeply affected the family, friends, deputies and first responders, our thoughts and prayers are being extended to all." - Montgomery County Sheriff Chris Watkins
On Saturday, Montgomery County Sheriff Chris Watkins told the News & Observer, "The owner agreed for the dogs to be euthanized so they could be forensically examined to see if they suffered from rabies." Medical examiners also wanted to examine the canines' jaw sizes, Watkins said. As of Saturday, the most recent fatal pit bull attack remained a death investigation, not a criminal investigation. As of Sunday afternoon, the victim's name still has not been released.
View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: North Carolina Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.Related articles:
11/09/17: 2017 Dog Bite Fatality: Senior Citizen Killed by Own Dogs in Hamlet, North Carolina
03/29/16: 2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bulls Kill Visiting Elderly Family Member in Charlotte
02/12/16: 2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Killed by Pet Pit Bull in Perquimans County, NC
01/24/16: 2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bull Kills Child, Injures Another in Lumberton, North Carolina
Law enforcement departments across the United States should release consistent "baseline" information to the media and the public after each fatal dog mauling, including these items.
I will never understand why someone would get a breed of dog that you have to be in fear of it killing someone when it gets loose.
This will continue to happen until the owners are faced with criminal charges! Things need to change.
Yes, Murder charges this is BS
Yesterday at the grocery store I saw a kid helping a disabled man I assume was his father. He was pushing the wheelchair and helping him shop. Well, the kid was wearing a pit bull propaganda t-shirt. I thought to my self, both these people would be completely helpless if their pit went red zone. So many vulnerable people are being exposed to these dogs.
What a horrible, brutal death for that poor lady. Killed by dogs and then left to die in a ditch alone…just awful.
This leaves people no choice but to walked armed. It’s a sad time when the fear is not being bit by a dog but killed by a dog.
Yes, Murder charges this is BS
Take a can of Hornet spray when running or in dangerous areas! Better to have that then be killed by these blood sport dogs and ignorant so called owners! BAN THIS BREED FROM AMERICA
The person who owns these murderous dogs – not only is he not going to be arrested and charged, but authorities are kindly asking for his permission to euthanize the dogs? Two disgusting dogs and their owner, who has blood on his hands, seem to have more rights than that poor elderly woman and her family. What about justice for the victim? No one is going to be punished, whatsoever? I mean, we live in a society where, if a small bakery refuses to bake a cake for your controversial wedding, you can be awarder hundreds of thousands of dollars, to soothe your hurt feelings. Yet, if your elderly mother is viciously killed by pit bulls, whose owner knowingly (or negligently) let them loose, you have no case? Something’s wrong with this logic.