ILLINOIS -- A woman died Tuesday after being mauled by one of her two pit bulls in November.
Tonia C. Parks, 39, was attacked by one of her two 8-year-old pit bulls as she had a seizure in her home Nov. 18 in the 3200 block of Collins Street, said Jennifer Stacy, deputy director of Winnebago County Animal Services.
Parks had remained in critical condition until she was pronounced dead at 8:48 p.m. Tuesday at Rockford Memorial Hospital. Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia said the Rockford woman suffered injuries to her head and that her jugular vein was bitten.
Because her injuries were documented, Fiduccia said no autopsy was planned.
A family member told investigators she had run out of the home Nov. 18 in an attempt to find help for Parks as she suffered a medical crisis. When she returned, she found Parks being viciously attacked by one of the dogs.
The other dog attacked the pit bull that was mauling Parks, Stacy said.
Both animals are scheduled to be euthanized Thursday. They have been in the possession of animal services since the attack, but the process Animal Services must take in these cases allowed it to technically take ownership of the animals today.
No owner came forward in an attempt claim the dogs, Stacy said.
(RRStar - Dec 7, 2011)
