North Carolina state investigators released autopsy results from a deadly dog attack in Chatham County that happened in May.
Deputies said 84-year-old Betty Joe Alston died after three dogs attacked her on May 18 on Alston Road near Apex. The dogs' owner, Dennis O’Keith Faulkner, was arrested and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter.
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Deputies said a family member found three dogs in the yard near Alston and had to chase them away.
According to the autopsy report released by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Sept. 3, Alston died from multiple large penetrating wounds and blunt injuries. The manner of death was listed as "accident," with a means of death listed as "assault."
The autopsy said Alston's son went to her home to check on her because she wasn't answering her phone. The report said he found her unresponsive in her lower back yard with several large open wounds and part of her left arm amputated.
The autopsy said the wounds were consistent with a dog attack.
Alston's family members previously told WRAL News that neighbors had called animal control about Faulkner's dogs. Deputies said Faulkner was warned about county ordinances that require that owners keep dogs confined to their property.
Faulkner is next set to appear in Chatham County court for a hearing on Sept. 14 after a grand jury returned an indictment for the involuntary manslaughter charge on July 14.
The indictment said Faulkner allowed his three dogs, which were listed as two Cane Corso breeds and a bulldog mix, to run at-large -- saying it ultimately led to the attack that killed Alston.
Falkner was released from jail after posting a $250,000 bond on May 28. The 32-year-old was previously charged with several animal-related offenses.
Faulkner was charged with three counts of misdemeanor allowing animals to roam at large prohibited and three counts of misdemeanor dog/cat/ferret vaccination violation for not having his dogs vaccinated for rabies.