A 60-year-old mother of two was discovered lifeless in a wooded area with severe dog bites.
The grim finding was made by a man who promptly alerted emergency services upon encountering the body on a trail on Thursday, April 23. Despite efforts by responders at the scene, the victim, identified as Lucia Tognela, could not be revived.
Lucia, a resident of Bianzone, Italy, was believed to have been on a solitary stroll in the nearby area of Trivigno di Tirano where her body was located. Authorities have confiscated five mastiff-type Dogo Argentino dogs from the local resident who was the individual to first discover her.
Reports from locals and hikers suggest that the dogs were frequently allowed to roam freely without leashes or muzzles. The dog owner allegedly permitted this behavior despite previous incidents of attacks on hikers. His negligent handling of the dogs had led to multiple complaints and police interventions, even though he had only moved to the area three years prior.
An autopsy has been requested to determine whether Lucia experienced a sudden fatal medical event, such as a heart attack, before the dog bites occurred, or if she was fatally mauled.
Family members informed investigators that Lucia did not have any heart conditions or other medical issues. DNA testing will be conducted on saliva samples from her wounds to ascertain if the injuries were inflicted by the seized dogs.
The dog owner reportedly noticed one of his dogs with blood on it before discovering the body. The 46-year-old individual could face charges for failure to control his animals and potential manslaughter.
Authorities have ruled out the possibility of an attack by wild animals like wolves or bears, as reported by NeedToKnow.
While the Dogo Argentino breed is prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in the UK, it is not banned in Italy.
Lucia, a married former surveyor, leaves behind two grown children. She was an avid hiker and participated in a local choir in her hometown of Villa di Tirano, where she previously served as a councilor. Additionally, she owned a second residence in Trivigno di Tirano and reportedly had a fear of dogs.
Franco Marantelli Colombin, the mayor of Villa di Tirano, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident, stating, “There are no words for a tragedy like this, only deep anger. That breed of dog is particularly aggressive, and anyone responsible for it should have taken that into account. There’s nothing more to say: we can only stand with Lucia’s family in this moment of profound grief.”
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