In Brevard County, Florida, a tragic incident led to an arrest on Wednesday, following a deadly dog attack that occurred on May 19. The arrest was announced by the local sheriff’s office.
The suspect, 29-year-old Linda Cutler, faces manslaughter charges after her two dogs fatally attacked Jodi Cowan, aged 50, during her walk with her dog. Sheriff Wayne Ivey reported that Cowan succumbed to her injuries at a hospital, four hours following the attack.
Footage captured by a nearby home’s security camera reveals the distressing moment when the dogs charged at Cowan, attacking as she attempted to shield her pet.
According to Sheriff Ivey’s Facebook update, the dogs, named Max and Mako, managed to escape their owner’s fenced yard and launched a vicious assault on Cowan. They knocked her to the ground, mercilessly mauling her before dragging her across the yard.
In response to Cowan’s cries for help, her spouse rushed outside, using a knife to fend off the aggressive animals, as detailed by Ivey.
Agents took a sworn statement from Cutler during an investigation, and she said she was aware her dogs would routinely escape from the yard, had bitten another person in a past incident and were becoming “more aggressive,” Ivey said.
She said she put up another fence but knew it had holes in it, through which her dogs frequently escaped, according to BSO.
During the time of the attack, she was at a Hilton hotel on a beach, and Melbourne police were called to the hotel for a separate “disturbance” connected to Cutler.
Agents obtained an arrest warrant for Cutler, and Melbourne police assisted in the arrest. Ivey said she “feigned having a heart attack” while being taken into custody and was transported to the hospital.
Max and Mako are set to be euthanized, according to Ivey.
“Because of her, a family is trying to deal with the aftermath of a horrific attack on their loved one, and she’s soaking up rays and living it up,” Ivey said.
BSO shared a video of Ivey walking Cutler into the Brevard County Jail.
“Hope you enjoyed your time at the beach because you’re not going to be going back,” Ivey said.
“What is the purpose of that?” Cutler said.
“A woman is dead and two dogs are about to be euthanized because of your uselessness,” Ivey said.
Neighbors reported previous incidents in which the dogs roamed the neighborhood. The sheriff’s office said it also received calls dating back to 2024 in reference to other dogs at Cutler’s residence.
The dogs bit one of the neighbors, but Ivey said the victim in the incident did not cooperate with law enforcement.