CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — In a recent court decision, Susan Withers, 62, and her son Adam Withers, 35, from Circleville, Ohio, face prison time after being found guilty on Thursday of multiple charges related to a tragic incident in which their dogs mauled an elderly neighbor to death.
The jury convicted both the mother and son of six charges each, including multiple felony counts of involuntary manslaughter. The charges stemmed from a horrific event last October, when a pit bull owned by the Withers family attacked and killed 73-year-old Jo Echelbarger, along with her dog, in a violent encounter that shook the local community.
The fatal mauling prompted a thorough criminal investigation into how the Withers handled their animals and whether their negligence contributed to the deadly outcome.
Sentencing for Susan and Adam Withers is expected to be announced in the upcoming weeks.