A gruesome incident in Quitman, Georgia resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to her children after they were attacked by 13 aggressive dogs.

The tragic incident happened just before Mother’s Day, casting a pall over the normally joyful weekend.

Courtney Williams, 35, was found dead on May 9, 2024, in the yard of a residence on Webster Road, Quitman, Georgia. The distress call that led Brooks County deputies to the scene around 4:45 p.m. reported multiple minors under attack by dogs, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

Reports indicate that the attack occurred while Williams and her children were waiting at a bus stop near Brooks County Middle School. The GBI has not yet released information about the dogs’ ownership, but early reports suggest they might have been owned by a neighbor.

Courtney’s sister-in-law, Crystal Cox, relayed the events on social media. She reported that Williams’ son, Kayden, was badly injured while trying to shield his sister from the dogs. “He was hurt quite seriously but is doing better now, they stapled him up. He’s in pain and resting at my house,” wrote Cox on her Facebook post.

During the attack, Williams’ other son managed to run to the nearby school and get help. A man from the school assisted in driving the dogs away and rushed the children to the hospital before law enforcement arrived.

One local expressed deep sympathy for the family, particularly given the timing of the incident. “I do feel for the family and for the kids because now they are going to have to celebrate Mother’s Day without their mother,” the resident told reporters. Another local pointed to ongoing issues with stray dogs and the lack of county animal control, which could have potentially averted such a tragedy.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of the incident, the GBI is urging anyone with information to contact their Investigative Office in Thomasville. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are encouraging the public to share any relevant information that would shed light on the attack’s circumstances.

WALB reported that the initial assault involved 13 dogs. The Thomasville Humane Society began efforts to capture the dogs over the weekend and has successfully secured 11 of them.

The Thomasville Humane Society’s head, Chandler Giddes, commented on the incident, “The tragic loss of a woman’s life and the irreversible impact on two children highlight the significant challenges we face in animal services. It’s crucial to grasp the reasons behind such aggressive behavior in dogs, both from the perspectives of owners and the community. Responsibility is key.”

Three more dogs still need to be removed from the location, according to Giddes.

Each year, approximately 30 to 50 people die in the United States due to dog bites, which represent only a small fraction of the estimated 4.5 million dog bite incidents that occur annually.