In Pueblo, Colorado, a woman has been taken into custody following an incident in which her mother was fatally attacked by dogs. Jessica Hoff, aged 47, is set to appear in court on Thursday in relation to the tragic death of her 76-year-old mother, LaVonne Hoff. The elderly woman, who suffered from dementia and required constant supervision, passed away in February, as outlined in court records and a statement from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
Hoff was arrested last Friday under charges of criminal negligence and aggravated animal cruelty. The incident occurred when she left her mother unattended at their home in Colorado City, located about 140 miles south of Denver, while completing errands on February 3rd. Later that day, deputies responding to a call discovered LaVonne Hoff unresponsive amid several loose dogs. In total, around two dozen dogs and seven caged birds were also found at the scene, as reported by the sheriff’s office.
Further investigation of the premises and another property nearby, owned by Hoff, uncovered 54 dogs, many of which were not in good health. Authorities noted that both the dogs and birds were living in unsanitary environments, leading to their seizure by animal control officers, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Jessica Hoff is currently in custody, with her bail set at $50,000. At this time, formal charges have yet to be filed against her by prosecutors. She is receiving legal representation from a public defender, though the office has chosen not to comment on the proceedings to the press.