Dogs maul teen in ‘gruesome’ attack in GA neighborhood. Now she’s fighting to survive
A teen’s daily walk through her Georgia neighborhood turned near-deadly Friday when she was attacked by a pair of dogs, media outlets report.
Now Joslyn Stinchcomb, 15, is in a hospital fighting for her life, relatives say.
The rising freshman was out for a walk Friday afternoon when two dogs authorities describe as pit bulls ran up and attacked her “with no provocation at all,” Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith told WSB-TV. He said Stinchcomb was coming around the cul-de-sac when the dogs jumped on her.
They proceeded to maul her, biting her ear and ripping the hair from her scalp, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported, citing family members. A Facebook post by a woman identified as Stinchcomb’s aunt also states the teen’s trachea was left “crushed and lacerated” in the attack and that surgery is required to fix it.
The teen was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition and underwent emergency surgery, according to the AJC. Her aunt said she’s now recovering in the ICU, but needs a ventilator to breathe.
Police said a neighbor dialed 911 after hearing Stinchcomb’s screams.
“By the time we got there, she was fighting for her life,” Smith told the newspaper. “By the grace of God, she didn’t pass away.”
Deputies shot one of the dogs, while the other retreated, WSB-TV reported. Smith said the dogs likely escaped through a back door that had been left open.
Both were later captured and euthanized after the “gruesome attack,” Smith said, according to the station.
The dogs’ owner was arrested and charged with reckless conduct, among other offenses, WSB said.
In a lengthy Facebook post, Stinchcomb’s aunt detailed the extent of her niece’s injuries, though she said “there’s still so much we don’t know.”
“The doctors have reattached the ear, but they are not sure if it is viable,” Charity Stinchcomb Montgomery wrote. “Only time will tell. Nor do they know if she’ll be able hear out of that ear. Her face has multiple lacerations with nerve damage. We don’t know the extent of this damage at this time.”
Stinchcomb’s family has since launched an account on PayPal to help cover the teen’s medical costs.
“We are continued to be overwhelmed by the love, support and prayers that we are receiving,” Montgomery added. “Please continue to pray for our sweet girl.”
This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Dogs maul teen in ‘gruesome’ attack in GA neighborhood. Now she’s fighting to survive."