Ohio woman, 75, ‘killed and eaten by neighbor’s pigs on Christmas Day’
An elderly Ohio woman was mauled to death and partially eaten by her neighbor’s hungry pigs near her home on Christmas Day.
Rebecca Westergaard Rigney, 75, was found dead with wounds to her leg on the sidewalk of her home on Mink Street in Pataskala.
The senior lady’s niece raised the alarm about her disappearance after Rigney failed to show up at her home in Norton, Ohio for celebrations.
Responding officers arrived at Rigney’s property around 3 p.m. and found a large pig.
Officers also discovered at least two pigs in the neighbor’s home and informed the owner that the animals will be quarantined until further notice. WBNS reported.
According to the Columbus Shippingthe victim lived alone in her home.
Police Chief Bruce Brooks later said more information about her death will be provided once full autopsy results are known in about four to six weeks.
He also called the case a “horrible, terrible situation” and confirmed that the situation is still under investigation as there are no clear laws on attacks by farm animals.
Rebecca Westergaard Rigney, 75, was found dead with wounds to her leg on the sidewalk of her home on Mink Street in Pataskala
“If it were a pit bull or a Rottweiler, or name any of the other fifteen dogs considered semi-aggressive, we would know the answer right away.”
“But because we are farm animals, we have never had to deal with this,” he told the newspaper Send.
Brooks also made it clear that he is unsure what will happen to the pigs and that his department has been in contact with the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office.
As of now, the Licking County Coroner’s Office said Rigney died of hemorrhage due to extensive superficial wounds from livestock and ruled her death accidental.
The coroner said the elderly woman had previous health problems with her heart and was taking blood thinners.
Officials have yet to name the owner of the wild animals and clarify whether they will face criminal charges.
David Mullings, a neighbor, said the incident is confusing and wild.
“It’s pretty crazy and wild. There are no wild boars around. I’ve never seen pigs, except from the market down the street. It’s very confusing.
As of now, the Licking County Coroner’s Office said Rigney died of hemorrhage due to extensive superficial wounds from livestock and ruled her death an accident.
Brooks also clarified that he was unsure what will happen to the pigs and that his department has been in contact with the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office.
‘It would be nice to get clarification on what actually happened. What’s going on in our neighborhood?,” he said WBNS.
This comes days after a three-year-old girl was killed in a vicious dog attack while visiting her father’s apartment in Ohio.
The panicked father called Cincinnati police on December 27 after discovering blood all over his living room.
His toddler daughter, Kingsley Wright, was already dead on the floor.
“My baby is dead,” he told the dispatcher. “This must be a fucking nightmare.”
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office ruled that little Kingsley was mauled by the family’s three dogs. The Researcher reported this.
Kingsley’s mother Gina Smith had driven her from their home in Wilmington to her father’s apartment in Roselawn on December 23 to celebrate the holidays.
Smith said WLWT television that Kingsley spent time with the family over the holidays, but she had no idea the dogs in the house were dangerous.
She noted that Kingsley was staying at the house “for the first time ever.”