HARRISON TOWNSHIP, OH — A tragic dog attack has resulted in the death of 73-year-old JoAnn Echelbarger and the subsequent arrest of two Ashville residents, Susan and Adam Withers, in connection with the incident. The attack occurred on Thursday afternoon in the 600 block of Kildow Court, as Echelbarger was tending to her flower beds.
Emergency responders from the Harrison Township Fire Department arrived at the scene around 3:30 p.m. after receiving reports of the attack. Echelbarger sustained severe injuries and went into cardiac arrest while being transported to Grant Medical Center. Despite medical personnel’s efforts, she tragically passed away at the hospital.
The investigation has revealed a troubling history involving the two dogs, pit bulls named Apollo and Echo, owned by the Withers family. According to court documents, residents of The Reserve at Ashton Village have complained about these dogs for nearly a decade. Since 2015, homeowners have reported issues with the dogs running unleashed and uncontrolled.
In March 2023, one of the dogs, Echo, bit a person while running loose, and another incident on October 26 involved Apollo attacking and killing another dog. Following these incidents, the homeowners association (HOA) attempted to have the dogs removed but faced resistance from the Withers family, who claimed the dogs had been “provoked.”
In December 2023, despite acknowledging that the dogs were not leashed or under control during the incidents, the homeowners insisted on their innocence. The HOA filed a permanent injunction in court in April 2024, detailing over a dozen complaints about the dogs, including two attacks. In September 2024, prior to the deadly attack on Echelbarger, Pickaway County Judge Knece ordered the removal of both pit bulls from the property immediately and permanently.
The arrests of Susan and Adam Withers follow this tragic incident, both were charged with involuntary manslaughter a felony charge, and Failure to Restrain the dogs. The dogs were euthanized during the latest attack. Susan and Adam Withers both are being held on 500,000 dollar bonds.