Courtney Fischer abc13.com Mon, 25 Nov 2019 14:27 UTC
Authorities confirm an attack by wild hogs caused the death of a woman whose body was found in the front yard of an Anahuac home Sunday.
Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said in a press conference Monday afternoon the Jefferson County medical examiner's office formally ruled the cause of death as "exsanguination due to feral hog assault.
"We had suspected that," said Hawthorne. "My detectives and the criminal investigation team felt like that's what it was, but it was not something that we could even come close to announcing until we had the cause of death from the medical examiner's office."
The Chambers County Sheriff's Office said the body was discovered in the 400 block of State Hwy 61.
The woman was identified as 59-year-old Christine Rollins of Liberty.
Authorities say Rollins was the caretaker of an elderly couple who lives in the home where her body was discovered.
When she didn't show up at the normal time, the 84-year-old homeowner went outside and found Rollins laying between her vehicle and the home's front door.
When deputies arrived, they found Rollins deceased with multiple injuries to her body.
Hawthorne called it one of the most horrific scenes he's ever seen. Neighbors told ABC13 they have complained recently about wild hogs in the area.
"As soon as I seen the news report on that, my heart goes out to the family. A loss like that, no one needs to have to go through," said "Cajun Bob" Thornberry, of Sweeny. He's been trapping and hunting wild hogs for 40 years and has used trees to make escapes from charging hogs.
A carer found dead in a front yard was savaged by wild hogs, police fear.
"If you walk up on a bunch of these hogs, don't try to run because they can outrun you. Try to get close to a tree and if you can't get close to a tree, at least carry a gun with you," he advised. Like any wild animal, feral hogs attack when they feel threatened, Thornberry said.
Deadly hog attacks are extremely rare. A quick online search shows only 4 reported in United States history before Rollins.
The sheriff says hogs in that rural part of Chambers County are becoming a bigger problem, and there are signs hogs were on the property where Rollins died.
"We've got individuals that hunt hogs with dogs. They put Kevlar on these dogs for a purpose because those hogs are vicious. And when they feel threatened, they're coming after you," said neighbor David Bennett.
No one reported hearing the incident.
The 84-year-old homeowner and his 79-year-old wife have severe dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Both require around-the-clock care.
Rollins was one of their three caretakers and had worked for them for a year and a half.
According to family members, Rollins was a huge fan of the San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Rockets, and dedicated her life to helping people. They also described her as a hard worker.
She leaves behind one adult daughter and two adult grandchildren.
Rollins would have turned 60 years old on Christmas Day.
I was once out biking (bicycle) in a huge public wildlife area - where I ALWAYS see more eagles than people.
There are beai coup wild critters there. Also, this was before they changed the law to allow concealed firearm carriers to bring guns into these areas, so all I had was a 20"? super sharp industrial carbon steel drill bit (I found it another time will jogging - apparently fell off some truck.) I attached a handle to it and keep it in a scabbard on my bike.
I see female feral hogs there but not males, usually./ever.
Well I was hot, tired, (heat index over 100 F and no shade, and on the last turn to the parking lot, with about 1/4 mile of soft sand to bike through first. I'd stopped my bike for a rest and all of a sudden, I had a pissed off >200 lb boar 'trying to?' No, ACTUALLY scaring the hell out of me to make me leave. (I guessed his size - I never saw him - by the fact that he was banging into he base of a 10" diameter trunk of a 40 foot high hickory tree and the 40' high top of it was swinging back and forth. When I saw Avatar, this scene, reminded me of what that felt like before I finally got gone.
What it felt llke? This scene: [Link] (I was the guy with the assault rifle running llike hell and saying "Let's get out of here!!!"
But I didn't run, I calmly got on my bike and skedaddled. (See above article quote : "If you walk up on a bunch of these hogs, don't try to run because they can outrun you. Try to get close to a tree and if you can't get close to a tree, at least carry a gun with you," he advised. Like any wild animal, feral hogs attack when they feel threatened, Thornberry said.)
I never saw him as he was behind the standard palmetto shrubbery. But they can get WAY Bigger. Check these one or two out: [Link] or search your browser for < largest feral hog killed > and go to images.
In ancient Greece, some early hero? whaatever - ah, Adonis - was killed by a wild hog.
Many years ago, I was a caretaker of a 500 acre estate. On one of the regular patrols of the property we spotted a wild boar up on the hill, next thing we knew it was charging us. Fortunately we were in a truck, but the dent it put into the door was impressive, it was then that we noticed a bunch of piglets on the otherside of the truck and realized that we had gotten in between momma and her babies. She was mad and was hell bent on getting us. I never went back into that area of the property without a sidearm or rifle again.
BannerCap In the same place, I once saw a mama with her four piglets, and they were all the normal colors except one. She was CALICO!!! (I'm guessing that peglet was a she because >95% of calico cats are female.)
There are beai coup wild critters there. Also, this was before they changed the law to allow concealed firearm carriers to bring guns into these areas, so all I had was a 20"? super sharp industrial carbon steel drill bit (I found it another time will jogging - apparently fell off some truck.) I attached a handle to it and keep it in a scabbard on my bike.
I see female feral hogs there but not males, usually./ever. What it felt llke? This scene: [Link] (I was the guy with the assault rifle running llike hell and saying "Let's get out of here!!!"
But I didn't run, I calmly got on my bike and skedaddled. (See above article quote : "If you walk up on a bunch of these hogs, don't try to run because they can outrun you. Try to get close to a tree and if you can't get close to a tree, at least carry a gun with you," he advised. Like any wild animal, feral hogs attack when they feel threatened, Thornberry said.)
I never saw him as he was behind the standard palmetto shrubbery. But they can get WAY Bigger. Check these one or two out: [Link] or search your browser for < largest feral hog killed > and go to images.
In ancient Greece, some early hero? whaatever - ah, Adonis - was killed by a wild hog.
R.C.