A tragic incident in Pueblo, Colorado, led to the death of 76-year-old LaVonne Hoff, who was left alone in her home despite having dementia. Authorities reported that she was attacked and killed by a pack of dogs inside the property.
LaVonne’s daughter, Jessica Hoff, had left her mother unattended while running errands, even though LaVonne required 24-hour care. Jessica owned more than 50 dogs, all of which were involved in the fatal attack. Following the incident, Jessica Hoff was arrested on charges of criminal negligence and aggravated cruelty to animals.
Deputies arrived at the home to find LaVonne unconscious, with multiple dogs running loose. In addition to the attacking dogs, authorities discovered around two dozen other dogs and seven birds kept in cages. A further search of Jessica’s home and another nearby property revealed a total of 54 dogs, many of which were in poor health.
Animal control officers seized all the animals due to the unsanitary and inhumane conditions they were found in. Officials later confirmed through an autopsy that LaVonne’s cause of death was due to the severe dog attack.
Jessica Hoff is currently being held at the Pueblo County Jail, with her bond set at $50,000. As of Monday, prosecutors had not yet filed formal charges against her. She is being represented by a public defender, but the office has not made any public statements regarding the case.
This heartbreaking case has raised concerns about animal hoarding, elder neglect, and the dangers of keeping large numbers of dogs without proper care or supervision. The investigation into the case is ongoing, and authorities are working to ensure that similar tragedies do not happen in the future.
