Monday, November 19, 2012

Housecleaner Mauled to Death by Dogs ID'd

Marijuana grow discovered in back room of home where woman was found dead



CALIFORNIA -- The county medical examiner has identified a woman mauled to death by one or more of the eight dogs found roaming near her body in a Fallbrook home last Sunday.

Remedios Romero-Solares, 30, was hired to clean the home in the 1300-block of Calle Tecolotlan, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner.

She was a resident of Fallbrook.

A relative who came to pick her up at around 5:15 p.m. Sunday found her dead in the backyard and called police.

When authorities responded, they found eight large dogs running loose in the backyard where the woman's body was found. The residents were not home, and the garden hose was still running when they arrived, said Lt. Glenn Giannantonio with the Sheriff's Homicide Unit.

The medical examiner confirmed that Romero-Solares died from the dog bites and other blunt force injuries. Her death was an accident, the examiner stated.

The San Diego County Department of Animal Services took the dogs into custody and said they were a larger breed of dog called Olde English Bulldogge. Authorities did not have to use any force with the dogs.

Giannantonio said the woman had spent the previous night at the house, but this was her first time cleaning the house, and she was not very familiar to the dogs.

The Department of Animal Services told NBC 7 the owners were breeding and selling the dogs.The youngest of the pack is about 4 to 5 months old. The largest dog is 105 pounds.

NBC 7 reached the homeowner on Tuesday by phone but she was not available to discuss the incident.The Department of Animal Services has yet to determine whether the homeowner will face charges in the case.

Additionally, as deputies were conducting an investigation into the woman's death, they discovered a marijuana grow in the back bedroom of the home. The grow consisted of 24 plants, according to a San Diego County Sheriff's Department statement.

Investigators with the Narcotics Task Force seized the grow operation and will be investigating the grow.

NBC 7 spoke to dog expert and trainer Toni Menard on Tuesday, who said in addition to the breed of dog, the sheer number of them is what concerns her most.

“When you have 8 [dogs] in one location, that sets off red flags,” Menard said. “Someone needs to know what they’re doing to have that many bully breeds in one place.”

(nbcsandiego.com - Nov 17, 2012)

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