Police in California are investigating the death of a young Arizona mother after she was tragically killed in a dog attack while protecting her 5-year-old son, Us Weekly has learned.
Emily Panuco sustained several severe injuries within the February 27 attack that unfolded inside her mother’s home in Big River, California. She was just 26.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office said in an announcement that Panuco sustained bite wounds that ultimately proved fatal.
Panuco was visiting California to see some latest puppies at her mother’s residence. Authorities say Panuco’s mother was not home on the time of the attack.
The young boy got too near the puppies, prompting the three adult dogs — including the mother of the puppies — to maneuver aggressively towards the kid.
Panuco got between her son, Jesse, and the dogs to guard him, police said. She was later declared dead on the scene, in accordance with investigators. Her son was taken to a hospital for treatment after he suffered two severe bite wounds within the incident. The three dogs involved within the attack were euthanized by animal control, the sheriff’s office said.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Panuco’s family has began a GoFundMe campaign for her husband and their children, including a 7-month-old daughter, Rosmé.
“The shock and pain of this event have left the family reeling, and so they are in need of support from their community,” reads the GoFundMe. “The funds raised will go directly toward covering Emily’s funeral costs, providing each day necessities like food, and ensuring Richie and his children have access to therapy and resources to assist them grieve and heal.”
The statement continued, “Emily was a faithful mother who worked on the CRITT library, where she touched the lives of many children and families. Her love for her family was evident in every little thing she did, and her absence leaves an incredible void.”
The fundraiser asks that folks “pray for Richie, his kids, and their entire family as they fight to get through this heartbreaking time. Your generosity will help Richie grieve the lack of his amazing wife and support his children with the essentials they need. Every donation, irrespective of the dimensions, will make a meaningful difference for this family as they start to rebuild their lives.”
The fundraising effort has generated over $36,000 in donations on the time of publication.
It was unclear if criminal charges were being considered in connection to the fatal incident. Us reached out to the sheriff’s office for comment but didn’t hear back on the time of publication.
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Richie, 31, told the California Post his wife is a hero.
“She was an excellent person. An important role model, not just for her family, but I consider for the community,” he said. “She was supportive of everyone’s dreams. All the time filled with joy. She did an excellent job at being very joyful.”
Emily, he said, was also the legal guardian of her 16-year-old sister, Saralynn.
One among the dogs involved within the fatal mauling had been previously abandoned by a neighbor, so Emily’s mother took it in, in accordance with the Post.
There was also a Heeler mix named “Dipstick” and one other mutt, her family told the Post.