Mother Mauled to Death by Daughter's 47 Dogs

Responding to a report of an unconscious woman inside a modest home in Colorado City on Feb. 3, 2025, deputies expected a routine rescue. But what they found was far from routine. Inside the residence, they encountered chaos — dozens of dogs running loose, others confined in feces-covered cages, and bloodstains marking the floors. In one room, they found 76-year-old LaVonne Hoff — not unconscious but dead. Authorities would later determine that LaVonne died after being mauled by the dogs in the home... dogs her daughter was allegedly supposed to be caring for.

Dozens of Dogs, One Unattended Woman

Jessica Hoff, LaVonne's 47-year-old daughter, now stands at the center of a disturbing case involving alleged neglect, animal cruelty, and a mother's violent death.

According to a press release from the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, Jessica allegedly left her mother alone while she ran errands in Pueblo, roughly 25 miles away, as reported by PEOPLE.

At the time, LaVonne — who had dementia and required 24-hour care — was in the home with more than twenty dogs and seven caged birds. Investigators found the dogs to be living in dire conditions, and many of them were in poor health.

In a Pueblo County Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit, a detective reportedly described the conditions in the house, saying, "Besides the blood transferred throughout the house by the dogs, the residence was unlivable, smelled of urine and feces, and was overcrowded with dog crates and furniture," as reported by The Pueblo Chieftain. The detective also added that many dogs were in dirty, often unsafe cages. "These crates could not only cause severe injuries to the dogs but also severe medical conditions as well. Upon my arrival, none of the animals had access to food and water."

Deputies seized a total of 47 dogs from the home and a nearby shed. Another seven were removed from a second property Jessica owned. Fourteen dogs were later euthanized — three directly tied to the attack, nine for aggression, and one due to medical issues.

Investigators stated that LaVonne Hoff suffered injuries consistent with a fatal dog attack. An autopsy concluded she died from blood loss after her femoral artery was severed.

A Pattern of Alleged Abuse

This wasn't the first time authorities were alerted about potential problems in the Hoff home.

Jessica Hoff had previously been investigated for alleged abuse of both her mother and her animals. Adult Protective Services had documented multiple encounters with LaVonne, including reports that Jessica had hit, kicked, and even strangled her mother, according to The Pueblo Chieftain. In one instance, hospital staff noted LaVonne had seven hematomas on her head and other suspicious injuries.

Despite these red flags, LaVonne was allowed to return to the home after some of the allegations were dismissed due to lack of evidence or retracted statements. At one point, she reportedly told investigators she felt safe living with her daughter.

Animal welfare authorities also had numerous run-ins with Jessica, citing her for illegally breeding dogs without a license and keeping too many animals in unfit conditions.

Charges in a Troubling Story

Jessica Hoff was arrested and now faces a felony charge of criminal negligence resulting in the death of an at-risk adult and 54 counts of aggravated animal cruelty, ABC7 News reports.

The death of LaVonne Hoff is more than a tragic headline — it's a grim example of what can happen when red flags are overlooked, and vulnerable individuals are left in unsafe environments. It raises difficult questions about elder care, the responsibilities of family caregivers, and how communities and authorities respond to warning signs.

References: PCSO: Elderly woman killed in dog attack had several past contacts with social services | A Mom with Dementia Was Allegedly Left Home Alone with Dozens of Dogs That Killed Her. Now, Her Daughter Has Been Charged | Colorado mother killed by some of her daughter's more than 50 dogs, authorities say | Woman with dementia attacked, killed by daughter's sick dogs, police say; daughter charged