The family of an Ashville woman fatally mauled by two pit bulls who escaped her neighbor’s property has settled out of court for a total of $17 million in a wrongful death suit.
Jo Ann Echelbarger, 74, was gardening on her condo patio when the two dogs fatally attacked her on Oct. 17, 2024. Before that, one of the dogs had been designated a dangerous dog after it attacked another condo resident and killed her puppy, records showed.
Attorneys for the Echelbarger estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the condominium association and property manager as well as two officials serving as dog warden and deputy dog warden at the time of the attack.
In court filings, the attorneys argued the dog warden’s office failed to seize the dogs, and the condominium association knew the dogs were dangerous for well over a year before the attack but failed to take action.
Ashton Village Condominium Association and its property management company, Towne Properties, agreed to an $11 million settlement, according to Pickaway County Probate Court records. Former Dog Warden Preston Schumacher and former Deputy Dog Warden Wyatt Coleman agreed to a $6 million settlement.
Schumacher voluntarily stepped down from his position after the attack, and Pickaway County fired Coleman.
In a brief conversation with The Dispatch, family attorney Rex Elliott said there is no resolution to the case that can bring Echelbarger back, but her family at least hopes the settlement can prevent future dog attacks.
Elliott said he could not provide a detailed statement on the settlement due to its confidentiality provisions.
Pickaway County officials made several agreements with the Echelbarger family as part of the settlement, according to court records. Officials told the family the county is in the final interview stages for a new dog warden and assured them Schumacher will not be given the position.
The county previously hired William Brannock to replace Schumacher, but fired Brannock shortly after due to unspecified policy violations.
Additionally, the county will create a public hotline for citizens to report dangerous dogs, and the Pickaway County Prosecutor’s Office will oversee prosecution of dangerous dog cases in Circleville going forward instead of the Circleville Law Director, according to court records.
Settlement payments will be distributed to Echelbarger’s two adult children, her six grandchildren and the estate of her husband, Stanley Echelbarger.
Stanley Echelbarger was 84 and suffering from dementia and Parkinson’s disease when he witnessed the mauling from his wheelchair. He died in a nursing home less than six months later.
What happened to the dogs’ owners?
The dogs’ owners, Adam Withers and his mother, Susan Withers, were each found guilty of two counts of involuntary manslaughter and four charges related to improperly restraining dogs in a February 2025 jury trial. Pickaway County Common Pleas Court Judge Matthew Chafin sentenced them each to 14-19.5 years in prison.
In the trial, the defendants were accused of failing to secure the two dogs, Apollo and Echo, despite an October 2023 incident in which Apollo attacked another condo resident, Kimberlee Black, and killed her puppy. Apollo was designated a dangerous dog after that attack.
Police officers shot and killed both dogs after they killed Echelbarger.
It was not clear exactly how the dogs escaped the condo, but police officers testified during the trial that they observed the condo’s door did not properly latch during a previous visit to the residence. A Dispatch reporter who visited the property after the attack observed a screen door that was damaged and streaked with blood.
In the wrongful death suit, attorneys for the Echelbarger family said Schumacher and Coleman were aware that the Withers family was not complying with dangerous dog requirements but did not seize the dogs.
Ohio dangerous dog law changes
Since Echelbarger’s death, Ohio legislators have passed sweeping changes to Ohio’s dangerous dog laws. Avery’s Law – named for 13-year-old Avery Russell of Columbus, who survived a dog attack – requires euthanasia of dogs that seriously injure of kill a human in an unprovoked attack.
The law also authorizes dog wardens to immediately impound dogs involved in attacks, increases criminal penalties for negligent dog owners and requires dog wardens to investigate every dangerous dog complaint, among other changes.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed Avery’s Law in December, nine months after publication of an investigation by The Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository into how existing laws fail victims and allow owners to skirt accountability.
Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Family of Ashville woman killed by dogs gets $17 million settlement
Reporting by Bailey Gallion, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Bailey Gallion, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
