A 60-year-old woman has been found dead in woodland covered in deep dog bites.
A man alerted emergency services after coming across the body on a path on Thursday (23 April).
Responders who arrived at the scene were unable to revive the victim, identified as Lucia Tognela.
Lucia – a resident of Bianzone, Italy – is believed to have been on a solo walk in nearby Trivigno di Tirano, where her body was found.
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Police have now seized five mastiff-type Dogo Argentino dogs from the local resident who was the first to discover her.
According to locals and hikers, the dogs were often allowed to roam freely without leashes or muzzles.
The owner, Luca Ceconi, allegedly continued to let them roam despite previous attacks on hikers.
His lax management of the dogs had already led to several complaints and police checks, despite him having moved to the area only three years earlier.
A post-mortem has been ordered to determine whether Lucia suffered a sudden fatal medical episode, such as a heart attack, before being bitten – or if she was mauled to death.
Her relatives have told investigators she had no heart problems or other medical conditions.
Saliva swabs taken from her wounds will be tested for DNA to establish whether the injuries were caused by the seized dogs.
Ceconi, 46, had reportedly noticed one of his dogs covered in blood before discovering the body.
Investigators have ruled out an attack by wild animals such as wolves or bears, as reported by Need To Know.
Ceconi could be placed under investigation for failure to control animals and manslaughter.
In the UK, the Dogo Argentino is prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, but the breed is not banned in Italy.
Married Lucia, a former surveyor, has two adult children. She was a keen walker and sang in a choir in her hometown, Villa di Tirano, where she once served as a councillor.
She had a second home in Trivigno di Tirano and was reportedly afraid of dogs.
Villa di Tirano mayor Franco Marantelli Colombin said: “There are no words for a tragedy like this, only deep anger.
“That breed of dog is particularly aggressive, and anyone responsible for it should have taken that into account.
“There’s nothing more to say: we can only stand with Lucia’s family in this moment of profound grief.”
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