Kristen Potter: Young son watches in horror as mother is mauled to death by neighbor's Great Danes
PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA: A 38-year-old mother, Kristen Potter, was mauled to death in front of her young son while watching her neighbor's two Great Danes. This happened less than 48 hours after she shared a tragic post on Facebook that read, “My life should be full and thriving and yet I'm here just surviving."
Potter died after the dogs attacked in the 700 block of Clouser Hollow Road in Centre Township, southwest New Bloomfield, as per WGAL. A third Great Dane was present but wasn't involved in the horrifying attack. Commenting on it, Coroner Robert Ressler explained that the neighbor had asked Potter to feed the dogs while they were away. As per Ressler, this was not the first time Potter was feeding the dogs.
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Shocked by the incident, the dogs’ owner, Wendy Sabathne, told, “I’m heartbroken, I’m in shock, I’m in disbelief and I just want to die. I can’t believe this happened," reported New York Post.
Dogs were euthanized
On Thursday evening, March 16, Potter and her young son were feeding the dogs. "He was present at the scene, but I don't think he was there for much of it. As soon as he saw the dogs starting to attack his mother, he ran across the road to have his brother call 911," Ressler said and further mentioned that the police and emergency medical services couldn't save Potter when they arrived because of the aggressive dogs. Later, animal control was called and tranquilized the dogs. Following this, the dogs were taken to a veterinarian where they were euthanized. Potter’s father, Bill Keefer, said one of the dogs previously bit Potter “two or three years ago.”
Who was Kristen Potter?
Potter, mother-of-three, who lost her husband found love again when she met Jacob Presley Fickett. Potter was reportedly engaged to Fickett, and the couple was planning to move to Florida. One of her sons also died in a bike accident in 2020, aged just 11. Talking about her, her sister, Jennifer Keefer, told WGAL, "When you’re around her, you just feel better. When you talk to her, you just feel better. She was just loveable to be around. Everyone loved her." Potter was described as 'kind-hearted.'
The sister and Potter's fiance have now set up a GoFundMe for the two children for "their future and to get help getting through this." The page further reads, "To be able to do the things their mother had planned for them and their future. We appreciate and thank each and every one of you who have a kind heart to donate to such a tragic loss."