Elderly man dies, woman severely injured after an animal attack in McIntosh County

MCINTOSH COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - An elderly man is dead after an animal attack in McIntosh County in the early morning hours Monday, reports the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies went to a home at Winnie Davis Court in Townsend after a caller reported that she and a man were actively being attacked by two dogs within their home. When deputies and medical staff got to the home, they found the woman severely injured and the elderly man dead upstairs.

The deceased was later identified as 78-year-old Walter Anthony Sterno, originally from Richmond Hill. The woman was taken to Brunswick for emergency medical treatment.

Both animals were safety secured by McIntosh County Animal Control officers from within the residence and ultimately euthanized off-site, according to the sheriff’s office.

Law enforcement said investigators are working to figure out the events that led to this tragic incident. The Atlantic Judicial District Attorney’s Office is also helping to determine whether any criminal charges are warranted.

“The Sheriff’s Office is working with other county agencies to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation. Sheriff Thornell ‘T.K.’ King extends his deepest condolences to the family of Walter Sterno and offers prayers for the rapid recovery of the injured female,” wrote the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office in a news release.