PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) — A Southern Colorado woman, Jessica Hoff, was arrested after her elderly mother’s death was attributed to a tragic dog attack, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were called to a home in the 4800 block of Jefferson Boulevard on February 3 after receiving a report of an unconscious woman. Upon arriving at the scene, they found 76-year-old LaVonne Hoff dead, with several dogs running loose inside the home. Additionally, two dozen other dogs and seven birds were found living in cages.
Autopsy results later confirmed that LaVonne Hoff’s death was caused by a dog attack. Deputies also learned that the victim, who had dementia and needed 24-hour care, had been left alone with the dogs by her daughter, Jessica Hoff, who had gone out to run errands in Pueblo.
A search warrant was issued for a second property belonging to the suspect in Colorado City, where deputies found 54 dogs and seven birds. The animals were living in unsanitary conditions, and several dogs were in poor health.
Deputies, working alongside Animal Law Enforcement, seized the animals and birds. Jessica Hoff was arrested on charges of criminal negligence resulting in the death of an at-risk adult and 54 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.
