The Columbus Police Department said a woman who was found dead on Josephine Street Saturday, November 15, 2025 did not die from a dog mauling as widely reported by most local media outlets. The initial report was based on statements from the Muscogee County Coroner’s office.
The Medical Examiner’s Office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has ruled that Evelyn Farmer died from natural causes (heart issues). This ruling confirms that her death was not caused by a dog mauling.
Officers located Ms. Farmer in the living room. Her dogs caused visible injuries after her death, and PAWS Humane Society removed multiple dogs from the home. Because of the condition of the scene and Ms. Farmer’s known medical issues, officers handled the case as a death investigation. That is standard practice when it is not immediately clear whether a person was already deceased before other factors (such as animal activity) took place.
According to a press release, CPD immediately requested an autopsy based on the given factors. That request was made directly to the Coroner’s Office. Despite that, public statements were made to media outlets claiming Ms. Farmer died from a dog mauling. Those statements did not come from the Columbus Police Department and were not supported by confirmed findings.
The autopsy results reinforce why the Columbus Police Department waits for verified facts before releasing information of this nature. Investigators handle death investigations, and the medical examiner determines the cause of death when there is any doubt.
CPD will continue to follow long-standing procedure when it comes to death investigations: investigate the scene, secure the evidence, and rely on the medical examiner’s official ruling before drawing conclusions or releasing unconfirmed information to the public.
