Overview
- Madison Riley Hull, 23, a University of Texas at Tyler student, was fatally mauled while caring for three pit bulls at a home in Tyler on Nov. 21.
- Deputies responding around 4:15 p.m. found her in the backyard; an officer shot and killed one dog after it charged, and two others were secured, with the deputy sustaining minor injuries.
- The two surviving pit bulls are in custody, and a Wednesday court hearing was scheduled for updates on their status, with Judge Andy Dunklin to address the case.
- The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is working with the District Attorney’s Office to determine whether the out-of-town owners could face charges.
- Hull had been pet-sitting the dogs for several weeks and was six months from an early childhood education degree, as family launched a GoFundMe that had raised more than $13,000 by Tuesday.