Dog Mauling Suspected In NorCal Woman's Death

BUTTE COUNTY, CA — Investigators believe domestic dogs could be responsible for the death of a woman killed in an apparent mauling while she was walking along a Northern California trail earlier this month.

According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, a passerby called 911 on Aug. 8 after finding the woman on Blackhawk Trail in Feather Falls, an unincorporated community east of Lake Oroville. Authorities later identified the victim as Davine Corbin, 56, of Feather Falls.

During an autopsy, a forensic pathologist found multiple bite marks and injuries that were consistent with those caused by a dog attack, officials said. Detectives assigned to the case obtained a search warrant for a home in front of where Corbin's body was found on the trail, where investigators said they discovered 25 Great Danes.

With help from Animal Control, deputies and detectives spent the entire day working to capture all 25 dogs, which officials said were running loose around the area. According to the sheriff's office, DNA testing performed on Corbin's clothing returned information consistent with domestic dogs.

The investigation is ongoing, and the lab will complete further testing to detect which specific dogs may have been responsible for the woman's death.