Pit Bull Viciously Attacks, Kills Owner's 70-Year-Old Stepmother; Victim's Mutilated Body Dragged Around Backyard

Long Island, New York -- A dog attacked a local 70-year-old woman this week, resulting in the victim's death, according to authorities.

Marina Verriest's husband found the animal dragging her mutilated body through the backyard of their Albertson home at around 1 p.m. Wednesday, the New York Post reported, citing the Nassau County Police Department and neighbors.

The pit bull, aged 7, "was still eating on the body" at the time of the discovery, according to police.

"The scene was pretty horrific. We don’t know what time the attack took place, but there was obviously a lot of mutilation on the body and the arm, the face [and] the legs," Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder revealed during a press conference.

Verriest's husband called the police, and the dog reportedly charged at the first officer to arrive at the scene. The officer opened fire, killing the animal.

Responding emergency medical services later declared Verriest dead.

The officer who fatally shot the dog received treatment in the hospital for trauma. They saw "something that was very traumatic," according to Ryder.

"We take care of our officers and make sure they’re OK," the police commissioner said.

The dog that attacked Verriest belonged to her stepson, who died in a motorcycle accident a few weeks ago. The animal had lived with the family for its whole life, police believed.

"We don’t know what turned the dog or why the dog turned on the woman. There had been no previous domestic calls to the home or calls regarding the dog," Ryder said.

Police believe there is no criminality involved in the attack.

A similar incident happened in Franklin County, Missouri, last December when three dogs mauled their owner's mother to death.

Two male pit bulls and a female mixed-breed dog attacked Leann Gratzer outside her daughter's home in the 2400 block of Highway TT, according to Franklin County Sheriff Steve Pelton.

The attack was reported, and responding deputies found Gratzer lying in the front yard of her daughter's residence. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The three dogs that allegedly attacked Gratzer, which were owned by her daughter and the daughter's roommate, were turned over to the sheriff's department.

A local veterinarian later euthanized the three animals.

It was unclear why the dogs attacked Gratzer since she never had any issues with them before, Pelton said.