A 75-year-old woman from Pataskala, Ohio, tragically lost her life on Christmas day after being attacked by her neighbor’s pigs, according to local law enforcement. Rebecca Westergaard was discovered deceased on her property that afternoon when her niece requested a welfare check after Westergaard failed to pick her up as planned that morning.
The pigs, which belonged to a neighbor, had wandered onto Westergaard’s property and were responsible for the fatal mauling, as confirmed by the police. Upon their arrival at the scene, officers found Westergaard’s body, which appeared to have been attacked and partially consumed by the swine.
Pataskala Police Chief Bruce Brooks described the incident as a “horrible, horrible situation.” While the investigation is ongoing, further details about the case have not been disclosed. An autopsy is currently being conducted to establish the exact cause of Westergaard’s death.
The pigs’ owner, who has not been publicly identified, may face criminal charges, although this remains uncertain. The fate of the pigs involved in the attack is also unclear. In Ohio, if a pet dog kills a person, it is euthanized, but the state law is less explicit about how to deal with aggressive behavior from farm animals.
Brooks expressed the unique nature of the situation, stating, “If it was a pit bull or a Rottweiler, or name any of the other 15 dogs that are deemed semi-aggressive, then we would know the answer right away. But being farm animals, it’s just not something we’ve ever dealt with here.”
Pataskala City Councilwoman Mary Hite, who owns a meat market near Westergaard’s home, clarified to local media that the pigs were not hers. The community is left in shock and mourning as they grapple with the unexpected and horrifying incident.