Pamela Marie Devitt, 63

Pamela Marie Devitt, a 63-year-old Latina, was attacked by dogs and killed on Thursday, May 9 near East Avenue South and 115th Street East in Sun Village, according to L.A. County coroner’s records.

Devitt was walking in the Antelope Valley desert by her home when a pack of four pit bulls began mauling the retired office manager. A passerby saw the attack and dialed 911, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

When a deputy arrived, a dog was still attacking the woman. The deputy was able to chase the dog away from Devitt after firing a shot at the animal.

Devitt died at 10:30 a.m. on the way to the hospital, according to coroner’s records and the department.  A coroner’s examination concluded that Devitt died of blood loss attributed to sharp force trauma.  Her skin had been punctured between 150 and 200 times.

Devitt’s husband told The Times that he was haunted by the circumstances of her death.

“There’s no way I can get the brutality of this out of my head,” said Ben Devitt, 65. “And the fact that there’s animals out there roaming around with that kind of killer instinct, it’s just kind of something I can’t shake.”

During the sheriff’s investigation, detectives recovered eight dogs – six pit bulls and two mixed breeds -- from the home of Alex Jackson, who lives three blocks away from the Devitts. 

Four of the pit bulls believed to be involved in the attack had Pamela’s blood on their coasts and muzzles, the department said.

Jane Robison of the L.A. County district attorney’s office told The Times that authorities had received at least three reports of attacks by dogs belonging to Jackson, 29, since January. On May 29, prosecutors filed a murder charge against Jackson in connection with Devitt’s death.

He was arrested at his home on May 30.  His bail is set at $1,050,000, according to the district attorney’s office.

His next court date is July 17, according to Sheriff's Department records.

 -- Samantha Schaefer, Richard Winton and Kate Mather