We previously wrote a story about a Port Huron, Michigan woman and mother named Rebecca Lillian Kay-Hardy who was mauled to death by two dogs on Thursday, December 3, 2015. Ms. Hardy was found by police with extensive injuries to her neck and face shortly after 4:45 P.M. in the backyard of a residence at 1721 10th Street.
Police originally said that Ms. Hardy had left her home, which was a few houses down, after a disagreement with her fiance, and was cutting through a neighbor's yard on the way back to her own house, when she was fatally attacked.
However, new evidence has been uncovered by Port Huron PD and Ms. Hardy's death has now been ruled a suicide by the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office.
Police say that Hardy jumped the gate and entered the fenced-in backyard of the home where a pit bull dog and a husky dog were being kept. The pit bull attacked Hardy first, when she entered the yard, according to The Detroit Free Press.
"These were attack dogs. These were vicious dogs in an enclosed space," Oakland County Medical Examiner Ljubisa Dragovic said. "She obviously was aware of that, because she climbed over the fence to subject herself to this threat."
A witness attempted to help her, but was unsuccessful. The witness then entered the home in attempt to get help from the owner of the dogs. Finally, the witness and owner were able to get the dogs away from Hardy and called 9-1-1. Hardy was taken to Lake Huron Medical Center and was later flown to Beaumont Hospital, where she unfortunately passed away from her injuries.
“I, in no way, shape or form believe that she was looking to hurt herself on that day,”said Hardy’s fiancé, Matthew Grattan. “She had a little girl. … She wanted us to be a family.” Grattan finds it hard to believe that she would do anything to harm herself.
Hardy had recently been kicked out of her house and had attempted suicide in the past; a toxicology report is still pending. The two dogs a pit bull and a husky mix puppy were euthanized the next day.
If you or someone you know has been attacked by a pit bull, a husky, or any dog, contact our lawyers at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our lawyers specialize in all types of injury cases, including dog bites and attacks. Call us today for free consultation at 844.4MI.FIRM.