Susan Shawl, 60, killed in two-dog attack at Conifer home
Jefferson County authorities said two family dogs killed Susan Shawl, 60, and injured her son Richard; the sheriff’s office described the dogs as terrier-pit bull mixes.
Incident summary
Jefferson County Sheriff-attributed reporting says 60-year-old Susan Shawl was fatally attacked at her Conifer home on the evening of August 29, 2016 by two dogs owned by her son, Richard Shawl, 36. Richard was also bitten while trying to intervene and was hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Authorities said investigators did not know what prompted the attack. Reporting citing the sheriff’s office said Richard had received a warning in 2008 after a neighbor reported the dogs loose and aggressive. Jefferson County Animal Control took the dogs into custody, and Richard later authorized their euthanasia, which occurred August 30.
Jefferson County Animal Control took both dogs into custody. Richard Shawl authorized euthanasia, and local reporting says both dogs were euthanized on August 30, 2016. The sheriff’s office said the investigation was ongoing at the time; the reviewed reports did not establish a criminal charge or final court disposition.
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Primary record used by BiteDB
CBS Colorado reported that Jefferson County sheriff personnel identified Susan Shawl, 60, as the woman killed and Richard Shawl, 36, as her son, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The report said the attack occurred around 7 p.m. August 29 at their Conifer home; the two dogs belonged to Richard; authorities noted a 2008 warning after a loose/aggressive-dog complaint; and Richard authorized both dogs to be euthanized the following day.
Open source ↗Additional sources
- A woman was fatally mauled and her son injured by their own dogs in ConiferLocal journalism citing Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office · 2016-08-30
- Fatal dog attack southwest of Denver leaves a mother dead, her son injuredAssociated Press report citing Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office · 2016-08-30
What BiteDB does not infer
Breed is recorded only at the provenance level shown above. Missing injury details, dog history, ownership facts or circumstances remain unknown unless a reliable source establishes them. This record may be updated as police, animal-control, medical, court or follow-up reporting becomes available.