A woman in Indiana died from a medical emergency before a four-year-old girl she was babysitting was fatally attacked by six pit bulls in the home.
Gina Flores had asked her aunt, Oliva Mora Regalado, to watch her daughter Evelynn Lopez. She did not expect that it would be the last time she saw either of them alive.
On Monday, Regalado, 53, reportedly passed away from a medical issue linked to a condition she already had. This left Evelynn alone with seven dogs—six pit bulls and one poodle mix.
Around this time, something caused the dogs to turn aggressive toward Evelynn, police in Huntingburg said in a statement.
Just before the attack, Flores had been on her way to pick up her daughter. When she arrived, she found both her aunt and daughter in serious condition.
She immediately called 911. Emergency services reached the home at about 3:40 p.m. and tried to perform life-saving efforts on Regalado, but she was declared dead at the scene.
Evelynn was taken to Deaconess Memorial Hospital in Jasper. She was in critical condition but later died from her injuries.
All seven dogs were put down at the home. Police said this was done to ensure the safety of others and to help with their investigation.
The dogs’ bodies were taken to an agricultural center for further testing. As of now, no one has been charged in connection to the event.
The family has not spoken publicly, but several people who know them have shared kind messages online. Many showed support for Flores and Evelynn’s father, Alberto Lopez.
One friend wrote on Facebook that Gina and Alberto were devoted parents, and people should avoid making harsh comments without knowing the facts.
This incident comes shortly after a similar case in Ohio. There, a seven-month-old baby girl, Elizah Turner, died after being attacked by a family dog.
Police in Columbus said the event appeared to be a tragic accident. The family had three pit bulls, but it is unclear which dog was involved.