Cocoa, Florida — A Florida woman is facing a manslaughter charge after authorities say her two dogs escaped from her property and fatally mauled a neighbor who was simply walking her dog near her home.
The case has drawn widespread attention after investigators alleged the dog owner knew the animals had a history of escaping and aggressive behavior before the deadly attack occurred.
Woman Fatally Mauled While Walking Her Dog
According to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, the attack happened on May 19 when 50-year-old Jodi Cowan was walking her dog in her Cocoa neighborhood.
Authorities say two dogs belonging to 29-year-old Linda Cutler escaped from her property by climbing over a fence before charging toward Cowan.
“The dogs identified as Max and Mako climbed over the owner’s fence and began to brutally attack and maul Cowan, forcing her to the ground, viciously attacking her and eventually dragging her across the ground for quite some distance,” Ivey said during a press conference.
Investigators also said surveillance footage from a nearby home captured the dogs running toward Cowan moments before the attack.
Partner Tried Desperately to Save Her
Cowan’s partner, Donnell Smith, later described the horrifying scene after hearing her screams.
According to previous reports, Smith rushed outside and used a knife in an effort to drive the dogs away. Despite his efforts, he found Cowan severely injured and lying in a pool of blood.
Smith reportedly attempted to stop the bleeding while continuing to fend off the attacking animals until emergency responders arrived.
Cowan was transported to a hospital but later died from her injuries approximately four hours after the attack, authorities said.
Owner Allegedly Knew Dogs Were Problematic
During the investigation, authorities obtained a sworn statement from Cutler in which she allegedly acknowledged several troubling facts about the dogs.
According to Sheriff Ivey, she admitted knowing the animals frequently escaped from the property and had become increasingly aggressive.
Investigators also alleged that Cutler knew the dogs had previously bitten another person.
Authorities further claim she installed an additional fence but knew it contained holes through which the dogs routinely escaped. At the time of the deadly attack, Cutler was reportedly staying at a Hilton hotel on the beach, according to investigators.
Dramatic Arrest Ends With Hospital Visit
After authorities secured an arrest warrant, Melbourne police assisted in taking Cutler into custody. However, Sheriff Ivey alleged that Cutler attempted to delay the arrest.
According to investigators, she “feigned having a heart attack” during the arrest process and was transported to a hospital before eventually being booked into jail.
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Video released by the sheriff’s office showed Ivey escorting Cutler into the Brevard County Jail.
“Hope you enjoyed your time at the beach because you’re not going to be going back,” Ivey told her.
“What is the purpose of that?” Cutler responded.
“A woman is dead and two dogs are about to be euthanized because of your uselessness,” Ivey said.
Dogs Expected to Be Euthanized
Authorities confirmed that Max and Mako are expected to be euthanized following the fatal attack.
Sheriff Ivey also revealed that neighbors had previously reported incidents involving dogs roaming from Cutler’s property, with some complaints dating back to 2024.
While many callers described the animals as non-aggressive, investigators noted that one prior biting incident could not be fully pursued because the alleged victim declined to cooperate.
The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors move forward with the manslaughter case.
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