A 47-year-old Colorado woman has been charged after her elderly mother with dementia was alleged to have been mauled by dogs that authorities say were living in "unsanitary conditions."
Jessica Hoff was charged with criminal negligence resulting in death along with 54 counts of aggravated animal cruelty, the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office said. Hoff's arrest Friday stemmed from a call the sheriff's office received on Feb. 3 for a report of an unconscious woman.
Deputies found LaVonne Hoff, 76, unresponsive, the sheriff's office said. Several dogs were running "loose" inside the home, and two dozen more were found at the residence.
LaVonne Hoff was pronounced dead at the home.
An investigation found that she was left alone while her daughter ran errands, even though she required 24-hour care for her dementia. During that time, the dogs attacked her inside the home, the sheriff's office said.
An autopsy found the cause of death was a dog attack, according to the sheriff's office.
"Detectives executed a search warrant on the home and a second property Jessica Hoff had in Colorado City and located a total of 54 dogs and the seven birds in her possession," the sheriff's office said. "The dogs and birds were found living in unsanitary conditions and several of the dogs were in poor health."
Court records do not list an attorney for Jessica Hoff, who is scheduled to appear in court Thursday. County inmate records showed that she was in custody Monday morning.