COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Judge sets bail for Adam and Susan Withers at $500,000 after grand jury indicts them following a fatal dog attack.

Mother and son were brought to court after the grand jury filed a criminal complaint against them. manslaughter last week.

Ashville Police Officer Bryan Cline testified in court last Thursday that Pickaway County authorities knew Adam Withers and his two dogs well.

“I had been to this apartment a few times and dealt with these things. dogs a few times” Officer Klein said.

Last year, one of Withers’ dogs attacked a woman walking her 12-week-old puppy, killing the puppy and leaving the woman with broken bones.

In October, the Withers’ dogs escaped again, leading to a tragic incident; This resulted in someone attacking 73-year-old neighbor Jo Ann Echelbarger while she was gardening.

Echelbarger later died in hospital. The second dog attacked another woman walking her two dogs, killing one of the dogs.

Police shot and killed both dogs; One of them was at Withers’ home when he tried to attack officers. The next morning, Cline told the court, it was reported that someone had buried one of the dogs in a shallow grave near the victim’s home. This was also next to the home of the homeowners association president.

The HOA had previously sued Withers for numerous complaints and fines.

A judge ordered the dogs removed on September 11. Two weeks later, court documents said, police found Withers lying in the roadway, appearing drunk, with the dogs unattended. Withers reportedly confessed using cocaine, and the police noted that a dog couldn’t Use your back legs.

Withers was charged with disorderly conduct, but the court complaint did not specify whether the dogs were removed or whether the dog warden was notified.

Adam Withers has faced misdemeanor charges involving dangerous dogs at least three times in the past, but those cases were dismissed due to insufficient evidence or improper charges. We have contacted Ashville Police for more information.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for December 20.