Ohio woman killed, partially eaten by neighbor’s pigs

PATASKALA, Ohio (WOIO/TMX) - An investigation is ongoing after a 75-year-old Ohio woman was fatally attacked and then eaten by her neighbor’s pigs on Christmas Day.

Pataskala Police Chief Bruce Brooks told the Columbus Dispatch on Monday that it’s not yet clear whether criminal charges will be forthcoming in the case, which he called a “horrible, horrible situation.”

Police were initially called to perform a welfare check on 75-year-old Rebecca Westergaard in Pataskala because she had not arrived as planned at her niece’s home in Norton, just outside Akron, and her family had not been able to reach her. Police arrived at Westergaard’s home and found her dead on her property near her house.

Brooks told the outlet that he could not share many details because the investigation is ongoing, but said the two pigs responsible for mauling and eating Westergaard belong to her neighbor. The neighbor’s identity has not been released, and Brooks said it’s still unclear whether they will face criminal charges because the aggressive animals are livestock rather than dogs.

“If it was a pit bull or a Rottweiler, or name any of the other 15 dogs that are deemed semi aggressive, then we would know the answer right away,” he said. “But being farm animals, it’s just not something we’ve ever dealt with here.”

Brooks said police are consulting the Licking County Prosecutors' Office, and would share more information once Westergaard’s autopsy is completed in four to six weeks.

MSGinSC on January 7th, 2025 at 23:42 UTC »

My Papa raised pigs when I was a kid and he'd never let you get near them if you had an open wound, he'd say. "Once they get a taste of human blood you have to put them down because they won't stop trying to eat people."

TurningTwo on January 7th, 2025 at 23:39 UTC »

My mother grew up on a small farm. Her parents would never let her feed the pigs or even be around the pen.

GoodSamaritan_ on January 7th, 2025 at 23:12 UTC »

Brooks told the outlet that he could not share many details because the investigation is ongoing, but said the two pigs responsible for mauling and eating Westergaard belong to her neighbor. The neighbor’s identity has not been released, and Brooks said it’s still unclear whether they will face criminal charges because the aggressive animals are livestock rather than dogs.

“If it was a pit bull or a Rottweiler, or name any of the other 15 dogs that are deemed semi aggressive, then we would know the answer right away,” he said. “But being farm animals, it’s just not something we’ve ever dealt with here.”

The pigs were wandering freely around the victim's house. There absolutely should be criminal charges.