The trial of a mother and son duo accused of being responsible for a fatal dog attack is currently unfolding in Pickaway County, as Susan and Adam Withers face charges of involuntary manslaughter after their two pit bulls attacked and killed a 73-year-old neighbor, Jo Ann Echelbarger, last October, reported The Columbus Dispatch.

During the trial's progression, stark testimonies regarding the severity of the incident have emerged, such as the details of the attack, which left Echelbarger with a broken neck and extensive bite wounds, ultimately leading to her death within minutes, and it was revealed that one of the dogs, Apollo, had previously been deemed dangerous after attacking another resident and her dog a year before Echelbarger's fatal encounter, this disclosure was made according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Witness accounts underlining the gravity of the situation, such as the first responder at the scene, Ashville Police Officer Antonio Jester, who testified about his encounter with the aggressive dogs during the attack and detailed his attempt to aid the victim in a statement he made to NBC4i.

Kim Black, a witness for the prosecution, also recounted her own harrowing experience with the pit bull named Apollo; she watched helplessly as her puppy was mauled a year before Echelbarger's death, and she testified in court, quoted by ABC6, He was shaking my dog like a rag doll, adding that Adam Withers did nothing to intervene despite her pleas.

The trial has placed a spotlight both on the Withers' handling of their labeled dangerous animals and on the broader implications for owners of pets that have proven to be harmful. Adam Withers has faced charges related to owning a dangerous dog in the past while this marks the first such legal trouble for Susan Withers, testimony is set to continue as the court seeks to unravel the circumstances leading to that fateful October day, as detailed by the local news outlets covering the ongoing legal proceedings.