Dogs attacked and killed a 74-year-old woman in remote North Carolina, cops say

As many as three dogs were involved in the killing of a woman in remote southwestern North Carolina, investigators say.

The body of Diane Emily Pellington was found late Wednesday, Feb. 25, in the Hiwassee Dam area near Murphy, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said in a Feb. 27 news release. The area is about a 250-mile drive west from uptown Charlotte

“The deceased was identified as a 74-year-old female whose family had requested a welfare check at approximately the same time she was located,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Based on observations at the scene, the death did not appear to be from natural causes, and a formal investigation was initiated. Assistance was requested from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.”

Pellington lived on Cross Creek Lane, where her body was discovered, officials said.

An autopsy performed Friday in Winston-Salem found evidence indicating “the manner of death was the result of a dog attack,” the sheriff’s office said.

“During the early evening hours of February 27, investigators seized three dogs from a residence on Cross Creek Lane. The animals are currently being held in quarantine pending further investigation,” officials said.

“All the dogs involved in this tragic incident were known to live in the neighborhood and were on their owner’s property at the time of the attack.”

An initial news release reported Pellington was 75, but subsequent releases have corrected her age to 74.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an average of 43 deaths per year are attributed to dog bites or being struck by dogs.

This story was originally published March 1, 2026 at 6:24 AM.