- Moraima Simon, 61, was found dead near her son's home in Alachua after reportedly being mauled by the family's two pit bull dogs.
- The two pit bulls were impounded by animal control, and an investigation will determine if they should be destroyed.
- Simon was caring for her grandson when the attack occurred, and the official autopsy results have not yet been released.
Moraima “Mori” Simon was visiting her son and his family in Alachua when police suspect she was fatally mauled by the family’s two pet pit bull dogs.
Simon, 61, was found dead near her son’s home late Thursday afternoon.
Alachua Police Department officer Thomas Stanfield told Mainstreet Daily News an exact cause of death was awaiting a finding by the medical examiner, but it appeared Simon was attacked by the dogs.
“There were bite marks on the deceased, on her arms,” Stanfield said.
Alachua County spokesperson Mark Sexton told Mainstreet that two dogs were impounded by animal control officers and an investigation will determine whether they should be euthanized.
Police had not released their report on the incident as of midday Tuesday. Stanfield said road construction work had apparently severed Cox Communications lines serving both the Alachua and High Springs police departments, leaving them unable to access digital records.
Simon, who worked as a medical office manager in Miami-Dade County, was visiting her son, Brian Faulk and his wife at their home on NW Country Road 235 in Alachua. Simon was caring for the couple’s 2-year-old son at the time of the attack. The boy’s parents had gone out, and she and the child were taking a walk. It is unclear who discovered the incident that happened in the rural, agriculture-zoned area.
Simon’s Facebook page includes photos of her grandson playing with two dogs, almost identical light brown pit bull types named “Scrappy” and “Chanel.” Police said the dogs reportedly have no history with animal control.
The Faulks moved to their Alachua property just over a year ago, bringing the dogs with them from South Florida. A family friend told Mainstreet the couple inherited the property and decided to move to Alachua County for a more relaxed lifestyle and lower cost of living.
Lauren Newbanks, an investigator with the Alachua County Medical Examiner’s Office, said she went to the scene Thursday night, but she declined to discuss details of the incident, citing the ongoing police investigation. Newbanks said the autopsy has been completed, but it has not yet been released.