Evelynn Lopez, 4, tragically passed away after being attacked by six pit bulls on Monday (pictured: Evelynn with her parents, Alberto Lopez and Gina Flores)
When Gina Flores asked her aunt to watch her young daughter, she never would have thought it would be the last time she saw either of them alive.
On Monday, Oliva Mora Regalado, 53, reportedly died from a medical emergency stemming from a pre-existing condition, leaving Flores' daughter Evelynn Lopez alone with seven dogs - six pit bulls and one poodle mix.
Evelynn was then viciously attacked by the animals, according to a statement from the Huntingburg Police Department.
It is unclear what caused the animals to turn violent on the small girl.
Flores was returning to pick up her child when she made the heartbreaking discovery, police told the DailyMail.com.
She frantically called 911 and emergency services arrived around 3:40 pm, according to police.
First responders immediately performed life-saving measures, but Regalado was pronounced dead at the scene.
Evelyn was rushed to Deaconess Memorial in Jasper in critical condition. She later succumbed to her severe injuries.
All seven dogs were put down at the home where the gut-wrenching incident occurred in order to ensure 'the safety of everyone involved and the preservation of evidence,' the police department said.
The animals' bodies were taken to an agricultural center for lab testing. No criminal charges related to the incident have been filed.
Relatives have not spoken out about the double-tragedy, but community members and friends of the heartbroken family have shared their condolences online, especially for Evelynn's parents, Flores and Alberto Lopez.
'Sending love and prayers to Gina and Alberto's family during this heartbreaking time,' Brisa Villalobos, who knows the family, wrote on Facebook underneath the police department's statement about the two deaths.
'Anyone who truly knows Gina knows how amazing of a mother she was to Evelynn she was her whole world, her little blessing from God.
'Gina and Alberto were both loving, dedicated parents, and it's really upsetting to see people making assumptions and leaving cruel comments without even knowing the full story.
'Please remember this family is grieving not just the loss of their daughter, but also Gina's aunt. They deserve compassion, not judgment.'
Reader Comments
SSOT, you need to break your campaign against poor dogs. You're making a fool out of yourself. There is so much happening in the world which needs to be covered. No need to engineer such garbage.
If you leave your small child in a house with 6 pit bulls...