HARRISON TOWNSHIP, OH — February 10, 2025 — The trial for Susan and Adam Withers, the Ashville dog owners charged in connection with a deadly dog attack, begins today. The couple faces a jury trial for involuntary manslaughter and two counts of failure to confine a dog following the tragic death of 73-year-old JoAnn Echelbarger.
The charges stem from the October 31, 2024, attack, when the Withers’ two pit bulls, Apollo and Echo, mauled Echelbarger as she worked in her garden. She later suffered cardiac arrest due to the severity of her injuries and died at the hospital.
History of Incidents
An investigation revealed that neighbors had long raised concerns about the Withers’ dogs. Since 2015, residents of the Reserve at Ashton Village reported the dogs running loose and acting aggressively. In March 2023, one of the dogs, Echo, bit a person, and in October 2023, Apollo killed another dog.
Despite these incidents, the Withers continued to defend their dogs, claiming they were provoked. In April 2024, the neighborhood homeowners association (HOA) filed a legal injunction seeking the removal of the animals. A Pickaway County Judge ruled in September 2024 that the dogs must be removed, but the fatal attack occurred before the order could be enforced.
Trial and Charges
Both dogs were euthanized following the attack, and the Withers were arrested and held on a $500,000 bond at the Pickaway County Jail. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The involuntary manslaughter charge is a felony, while the failure to confine a dog charges result from repeated instances of the animals running uncontrolled. The case has drawn significant attention, with many in the community seeking justice for Echelbarger.
The trial is expected to proceed over the coming days, with witness testimonies and evidence presented before a jury reaches a verdict.
