Man Whose 2 Pit Bulls Killed Kentucky Woman Pleads Guilty

Man Whose 2 Pit Bulls Killed Kentucky Woman Pleads Guilty
Epoch Newsroom
1/3/2018
Updated:
1/3/2018
The owner of two pit bulls that mauled a woman to death in Kentucky has pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Jan. 3, WYMT reported.

The station reported that Johnny Lankford admitted to harboring a vicious animal in the death of Lorraine Saylor. She was killed on Christmas Eve, while her husband, Johnny Saylor, was also attacked by the dogs.

Bell County Coroner Jay Steele told the station that the woman received massive injuries on her neck, face, and shoulder.

In pleading guilty, Lankford received one year in prison. During the attack, he was already in the Bell County jail facing charges in another case.

“I’m sure he will see this,” Johnny Saylor told WATE last week. “I hope he does. He’s responsible for my wife’s death.”

Saylor fought the dogs off, went inside his home, grabbed a gun and came back outside. When he returned he found his wife’s lifeless body.

(WYMT screenshot)
(WYMT screenshot)

“She was weak and about 105 pounds,” Saylor said. “I said, ‘Oh God! Oh no! Please no!’ I checked her pulse just in case.”

Saylor ended up shooting one of the pit bulls while the other escaped. He suffered 20 bites during the fight and was taken to a hospital.

As he recovered at home, Saylor said he was heartbroken about his wife’s death and that he never thought she would die in such a tragic way. “She was a kind-hearted woman,” Saylor said. “I remember the last time I kissed her on the forehead not knowing that would be my last kiss.”

“Early this morning Johnny Saylor woke up at his home looking for his wife, Lorraine, who was normally awake before him. His search lead him outside to his porch where he was attacked by two dogs described as both being pit bulls. The dogs grabbed Johnny Saylor attempting to pull him to the ground by his arm,” the Bell County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement about the attack.

According to the sheriff’s department’s news release, the dogs “released Johnny and he went back into his home to get a .22 caliber pistol.” Johnny then “used the pistol to shoot one of the pit bulls in the chest as it lunged at him,” the sheriff’s department said.

“Saylor then searched for his wife in the front of the house and discovered her lying on the ground. As he was checking on her, the second pit bull was standing a short distance away from him. Fearing for his life, Johnny Saylor shot the dog killing it,” it said.

Lorraine Saylor was pronounced dead at the scene of the attack.

The Bell County Sheriff’s Department said the attack took place off Highway 66 in the Wiser Branch area of Arjay.

Recommended Video:

Boiling water turns to snow