From The Tribune staff reports
WALKER COUNTY — The family of a woman who was killed by a pack of dogs last month in Walker County is taking legal action.
On Wednesday, Paula Gail Holleman filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owners of the dogs after her 36-year-old daughter, Ruthie Mae Brown, was attacked while walking down Jagger Road in Nauvoo on Oct. 19.
According to reports, the dogs were owned by Dana Hopper and Daniel Key. Holleman’s attorney says that Brown’s death followed a pattern of aggressive behavior from the dogs.
“The whole community has been terrorized by this pack of four dogs for a long time now,” said attorney Garve Ivey III. “People have been afraid to jog on the road. Census takers and mail carriers have been unable to do their jobs. People had begged for these dogs to be controlled and contained, and the defendants were callous to these pleas. Now we see the result of this reckless, callous behavior.”
Walker County authorities say four or five dogs have now been removed from the area and turned over to the county humane society.
No charges have been filed, but Brown’s death remains part of an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information about previous dog attacks in the Jagger Road area is asked to contact authorities at 205-302-6464.
