Kathleen Taylor: Florida woman arrested after her dogs rip off 63-year-old man's ears and nose in fatal attack
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA: A Florida woman has been taken into custody after three dogs owned by her brutally attacked a 63-year-old man to death. Kathleen Ann Taylor was arrested on Monday, May 1, and faces second-degree felony charges and one count of homicide - negligent manslaughter.
On February 24, 2023, Escambia County deputies responded to a 911 call about an adult male found unresponsive on a property in Norris Avenue's 400 block at around 10.00 pm, according to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons. The man was walking in the area when he was attacked, reported Law and Crime.
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Taylor has a history of issues with animal control agents
In a statement announcing Taylor's arrest on Monday, Simmons said, "A 63-year-old male was found with injuries to his head and torso. He was pronounced deceased due to these injuries. The man lived in a trailer on the same property, and it appears that three dogs attacked him and ultimately took his life. The owner of the property and the dogs is Kathleen Taylor, and right now, she is in jail."
The woman "failed to properly secure her home or her kennels, or any other enclosure designed to keep her dogs from roaming free," said Simmons. He also stated that Taylor did not take any proper action for the housing of her animals though she had a history of issues with the agents of Escambia County Animal Control who fined her multiple times for letting her animals roam around freely.
Neighbors filed multiple complaints against Taylor and her dogs
Following the alleged attack on the victim whose name has not been disclosed, police officers stated that several neighbors who were chased by Taylor's dogs filed complaints that the dogs posed a serious threat to their neighborhood.
"She doesn’t have the proper housing and obviously doesn’t have the proper care for them," said Escambia Animal Services Manager John Robinson. As per the probable cause affidavit, when responding officers arrived at the scene, the victim was found on the ground, lying "with both ears detached, along with his nose and left eye detached." The 63-year-old man also had several bite injuries on each of his arms.
"Kathleen Taylor, she chose to have a pet, she chose to take on that responsibility, and she failed in that responsibility, and now a man is dead. What a tragedy," said Simmons. If Taylor who is currently remaining in Escambia County Jail is convicted of the charges, she will be sentenced to 15 years behind bars, reported Law and Crime.
