CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — An Ashville mother and son are on trial for their alleged roles in the dog attack death of an elderly woman.  

Adam and Susan Withers pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter and owning a dangerous dog.

JoAnn Echelbarger, 73, was tending to her flower bed on Oct. 17, 2024, when she was viciously attacked by the Withers’ two pit bulls. She ended up dying from her injuries later that day.  

Tuesday was the second day of the Withers’ trial. The jury heard from multiple witnesses who were at the scene after the attack, along with the coroner who performed Echelbarger’s autopsy.

Sgt. Antonio Jester with Ashville police was the first person on the scene and took the stand Tuesday afternoon. The court also viewed Jester’s dash and body camera footage.  

“I attempted to get out of my cruiser to render aid to the victim, JoAnn, laying on the ground and then that’s when the two dogs ran at, charged at me aggressively,” Jester said.

Both dogs were killed by police that day.  

The officer also talked about rendering aid to the mortally wounded Echelbarger as she lay on the ground after the attack.  

“I saw JoAnn laying on the ground in front of her apartment covered in blood,” Jester said. 

The coroner took the stand Tuesday afternoon to describe some of Echelbarger’s injuries, many of which were gruesome and extensive.  

“Injuries of the head, neck, torso and upper extremities with probable large vessel lacerations of the upper cervical spine that we talked about, so the fracturing of the upper cervical spine,” coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger said.

He said the cause of death was clear pretty immediately.  

“Bite marks on the shoulder, scratch or abrasions on the chest and then on the right jaw line there’s two big bite marks,” Harshbarger said. “They were due to mauling or attack by dogs.” 

Adam Withers has been charged with owning a dangerous dog in the past but this is the first time Susan Withers is facing these charges. Testimony will continue in Pickaway County on Wednesday morning.