UPDATE: Fatal dog attack in Bell County leads to charges

ARJAY, Ky. (WTVQ) A woman is fatally attacked by dogs in Bell County and the owner of the dogs has been charged.

The Bell County Sheriff’s Department says on Sunday, Johnny Saylor went outside to look for his wife, Lorraine, and was attacked on his porch by two pit bulls.

Saylor’s brother rushed outside and started yelling at the dogs. The dogs let Saylor go and he went back into his home, grabbed a pistol and shot one of the pit bulls in the chest as it lunged at him. The dog ran off.

Saylor then discovered his wife on the ground. The sheriff says Saylor told them, as he was checking on his wife, the second pit bull was standing a short distance away from him. Fearing it would attack, Saylor shot the dog, killing it.

The sheriff says 66-year-old Lorraine Brock Saylor suffered fatal injuries in the attack and was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

Johnny Saylor was taken to the Pineville Community Hospital to be treated for injuries to his head and arm.

The sheriff says on Monday afternoon, the dog that ran off after Saylor shot it returned to the home. It was put down by sheriff’s department and Bell County Animal Shelter.

The owner of the dogs, 42-year-old Johnny Dale Lankford, has been charged with harboring a vicious animal. The sheriff says Lankford was already in jail on charges of domestic violence, unlawful imprisonment and a bench warrant.