A young woman in Georgia lost her life in a tragic dog attack, and the owner of the dogs is now facing involuntary manslaughter charges.
Should there be stricter rules to make dog owners responsible for attacks like this? Why or why not?.. Continue reading here ▶
On Wednesday, December 18, around 10:30 a.m., 22-year-old Samara Rogers was walking on Ira Road in Augusta when she was attacked by two dogs, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies arrived at the 3500 block of Ira Road after receiving a report of a dog attack and found Rogers, who had been severely mauled. Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:05 a.m.
Later that day, police arrested Charles Blackwell, 55, the dogs’ owner, and charged him with involuntary manslaughter. Arrest warrants revealed that Blackwell “caused the death of another human without any intention to do so.” The documents stated that the dogs attacked Rogers, biting her face and torso.
As authorities continue to investigate, Rogers’ family and friends are left grieving and trying to come to terms with the tragedy. Her mother, Tameka Harris, expressed her heartbreak in an interview with WRDW. “I didn’t know where she was. Why like that? It’s such a painful death,” she said. “In my mind, I can hear her saying, ‘Help me.'”
A GoFundMe campaign was set up by Yashaka Brigham to help cover funeral expenses. Brigham described Rogers, whom she called “Lu Lu,” as someone with a kind heart and big dreams.
“She had such a beautiful soul, and all she wanted was to become successful,” Brigham wrote. “Sadly, on her walk to school, she was mauled to death by angry dogs. It hurts so badly to know this is how she spent her last moments.”
The fundraiser also mentioned that Rogers loved animals, adding another layer of tragedy to the incident.
It is unclear whether Blackwell has an attorney to speak on his behalf. The investigation is ongoing.
