A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in a quiet Brevard County neighborhood near Cocoa, Florida, when two aggressive mixed-breed dogs broke loose and brutally killed a woman out walking her own pooch, leaving her husband fighting off the beasts in a desperate bid to save her life.
Jodi Cowan, 50, was attacked just after midnight on May 19 on Bluebonnet Drive in Sharpes as she strolled with her small dog. The pair of large canines, named Max and Mako, belonging to 29-year-old neighbor Linda Cutler, allegedly jumped a fence, knocked Cowan to the ground, and mauled her viciously before dragging her across the street.
Her husband, Donal Smith, rushed to the scene after hearing her cries for help. He found his wife in a pool of blood as the dogs continued their savage assault, trying to pull her away even as he fought them off. Emergency crews rushed Cowan to the hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries hours later.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey announced the arrest of Cutler on Wednesday, charging her with one count of manslaughter. Investigators say the dog owner knew her pets were a ticking time bomb: They had bitten someone before, showed escalating aggression, and routinely escaped through holes in her fence, yet she took "minimal action" to contain them.
"A family is trying to deal with the aftermath of a horrific attack on their loved one, and she's soaking up rays and living it up," Ivey said, slamming Cutler, who was reportedly vacationing at a beachside Hilton when cops hauled her in. She even faked a heart attack during the arrest, forcing a hospital detour before being booked into jail.
The dogs have been euthanized. Neighbors had previously complained about the loose, aggressive animals, with animal services issuing multiple citations.
Cutler is scheduled to appear in court Thursday. The case has sparked outrage, serving as a grim reminder of the deadly consequences of irresponsible pet ownership. Sheriff Ivey stressed that keeping dangerous dogs secured is both a legal and moral duty to the community.
