A 47-year-old Colorado woman, Jessica Hoff, was taken into custody last week following the discovery of her 76-year-old mother’s mauled body in a residence overrun by 54 dogs. The elderly woman, LaVonne Hoff, who suffered from severe dementia, was found deceased in the home they both occupied over a month ago.
The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about an unconscious woman at the Colorado City residence. Upon arrival, they discovered LaVonne Hoff’s battered body with several dogs running loose around her. The house was also found to be housing dozens more dogs and seven bird cages.
According to the sheriff’s office, an autopsy report revealed that the loose dogs in the home attacked LaVonne Hoff while she was alone. The severity of her dementia necessitated round-the-clock care. Investigators believe that Jessica Hoff had left her mother alone with the animals while she went to a store.
Further investigation of the home and a second property owned by Jessica Hoff revealed the presence of 54 dogs and seven birds. The majority of these animals were reportedly neglected. The police reported that the animals were living in unsanitary conditions, and several of the dogs were in poor health.
The county’s animal resources department later seized the animals. Jessica Hoff was subsequently booked into the Pueblo County Jail. She faces charges of criminal negligence resulting in the death of an at-risk adult, in addition to 54 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, one for each dog found in the home.