An arrest has been made in the tragic dog attack that resulted in the death of 62-year-old Gladys Anthony on January 15, but charges have been refused by the Circuit Attorney’s Office. As reported by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), a 54-year-old man was taken into custody in connection with the incident, but due to insufficient evidence, no formal charges will be brought forward.
The attack occurred late at night when officers responded to ShotSpotter calls and cries for help in the 5900 block of Theodore, they found the elderly couple with the dogs on top of them, the wife severely injured and the husband attempting to fend off the animals with a broom. The woman was found barely conscious, bleeding profusely, while her 73-year-old husband suffered bites to his arms and legs, he chose to seek medical attention later, sadly, Mrs. Anthony succumbed to her injuries in surgery at a hospital.
"The death of Gladys Anthony is a complete tragedy and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detectives worked with the Circuit Attorney’s Office to carefully review the facts of the case. If any new evidence comes to light, SLMPD will review it and notify the Circuit Attorney’s Office," the department stated in a release. Following the attack, a neighborhood canvass led to the discovery of the dogs at a nearby home, confirmed to be their residence, and the animals were subsequently seized by City's Animal Control Division.
The owner of the dogs, now identified and arrested, has been cooperating with police since the beginning of the investigation which remains ongoing the police had initially made an error in the victim's last name, which has since been corrected from "Anderson" to "Anthony" in previous reports; an update that is reflective of a commitment to accuracy in the painful recounting of a local woman’s demise.
