A North Carolina woman has been charged with second-degree murder after her pack of dogs allegedly mauled a man to death outside his home.
Elaina Bryant, 56, of Thomasville, was indicted by a Davidson County Grand Jury and taken into custody on Wednesday, 17 December. She faces one count of second-degree murder and ten counts of felony animal abuse following the fatal attack.
The victim, 73-year-old Michael Bodenheimer, was found dead in his front yard on Jeanette Lane at around 7:43pm on 18 November. Deputies initially responded to reports of a cardiac arrest but quickly determined he had suffered catastrophic injuries.
According to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, Bodenheimer sustained “severe injuries and was beyond the possibility of life-saving intervention.” Investigators said preliminary findings showed his injuries were consistent with an attack by a large pack of dogs.
Following a joint investigation between detectives and Davidson County Animal Control, authorities identified Bryant as the owner of 17 aggressive canines believed to be responsible for the attack. Police allege Bryant was “grossly negligent in the care and control of the animals.”
The dogs — identified as pit bull–mixed breeds — were located on a neighbouring property, captured by animal control officers, and later euthanised. Necropsies confirmed evidence linking the animals to the fatal mauling. An autopsy ruled that Bodenheimer died from injuries caused by the canine attack.
After reviewing the evidence with the District Attorney’s Office, the case was presented to a grand jury, resulting in the indictment.
Bryant is currently being held at the Davidson County Detention Center on a $500,000 secured bond set by a Superior Court judge. She is scheduled to appear in Davidson County Superior Court on 5 January.
Authorities said the investigation involved extensive coordination between criminal investigators and animal control officers to determine accountability for the fatal incident.
