Verified incident record · 2026-02-25

Diane Pellington killed in Cherokee County dog attack; charging review remains open

Authorities said 74-year-old Diane Pellington died in a February dog attack near Murphy; three dogs were seized, and an August follow-up reported inconclusive DNA testing and no final charging decision.

FatalTwo pit bulls and one Great Pyrenees (media-reported follow-up)Murphy / Hiwassee Dam community, NC

Date2026-02-25 · Evening; exact time not established in reviewed sources

LocationCross Creek Lane in the Hiwassee Dam community; exact residential point omitted by BiteDB

Victim(s)Diane Emily Pellington, 74, killed

Dogs involved3 dogs seized in connection with the attack; later testing reportedly did not conclusively identify which dog or dogs inflicted the fatal injuries

Injury severityFatal

Breed attributionTwo pit bulls and one Great Pyrenees (media-reported follow-up)A later Aug. 27 Hoodline report, citing Local 3 News and other local reporting, identified the three seized dogs as two pit bulls and one Great Pyrenees. The earlier Cherokee County Sheriff-attributed reports reviewed did not publish breed, and DNA testing was reported inconclusive as to which dog or dogs caused the fatal injuries. BiteDB therefore preserves this as media-reported rather than officially confirmed breed attribution.

What the record currently shows

Incident summary

Cherokee County authorities said 74-year-old Diane Emily Pellington was found dead on February 25 during the same period her family requested a welfare check. An autopsy two days later indicated her death resulted from a dog attack. Investigators seized three neighborhood dogs from a Cross Creek Lane residence. A later August 27 follow-up reported that DNA testing was inconclusive as to which dog or dogs were responsible and that the district attorney and state bureau were still reviewing the case; the sheriff said criminal charges had not been ruled out.

Legal-status note

Initial sheriff reporting described an active investigation with three dogs seized and quarantined. An August 27 follow-up reported that the three dogs had been euthanized, DNA testing did not conclusively determine which dog or dogs caused the fatal injuries, the district attorney had not made a final charging decision, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was conducting an independent review. BiteDB records possible charges as unresolved, not as an accusation or conviction against the owner.

Media & source coverage

Video, reporting and source material

BiteDB embeds media only when a source-hosted player is suitable for embedding. News photographs and footage remain with their publishers unless reuse rights are clear.

↗Original source mediaFOX Carolina source-hosted reportPublisher-hosted video/reporting; media remains with the source.

Source provenance

Primary record used by BiteDB

Deputies: Elderly woman dies after attack by three dogs in NCFOX Carolina local reporting citing Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office · Published 2026-03-03 · Accessed 2026-08-27

FOX Carolina, citing the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, reported that Pellington, 74, was found dead on Cross Creek Lane, an autopsy indicated death from a dog attack, and three dogs were seized and quarantined while the investigation continued.

Open original source ↗

Additional sources

Mysterious death of 74-year-old was dog attack, NC cops sayCharlotte Observer / McClatchy reporting citing Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office · 2026-03-02
Murphy woman’s fatal dog mauling still could bring charges, sheriff saysHoodline follow-up citing Local 3 News and local investigative reporting · 2026-08-27

Data-quality notes

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.