A Brevard County neighborhood already shaken by a deadly dog attack is now facing another disturbing discovery after deputies found three dogs dead inside the trailer where the victim had been living, according to a WESH 2 News report from Greg Fox.
Fox reported from Bluebonnet Drive near Cocoa, Florida, where 50-year-old Jodi Cowan was mauled to death last month by two neighbor dogs. Authorities were already investigating that fatal attack when they were called back to the area after animal remains were found inside the trailer Cowan shared with Donnell Smith, the man who had described her as his wife in earlier interviews.
“A criminal investigation is underway because right now, the sheriff’s office isn’t really sure what happened,” Fox said in the report.
Deputies and animal services officers were seen collecting the remains after someone reported a foul odor coming from the trailer. The discovery added another painful layer to a case that had already left the neighborhood angry, scared, and asking how things were allowed to get this bad.
A Fatal Attack Just Doors Away
Fox said the dog mauling happened just a few doors down from where he was reporting. Cowan was killed May 19 after two pit bull mixed-breed dogs named Max and Mako escaped from a fenced yard at a nearby home.
The dogs belonged to Linda Cutler, who was later charged with manslaughter. Fox reported that Cutler remained in jail under a $250,000 bond at the time of the report, with an arraignment scheduled for the end of the following week.
“This is an image from a neighbor’s security camera video that’s now become evidence in the case against the dog’s owner, Linda Cutler,” Fox said while describing footage connected to the attack.
The attack itself was horrifying. Smith previously told WESH 2 that he had returned home after helping neighbors across the street when he realized Cowan and one of their dogs were missing. He then heard a faint cry for help.
“I saw the silhouette of the two dogs dragging my wife down the road,” Smith said in the earlier account.
Smith said he later found Cowan badly injured, lying in blood, as the dogs came back and tried to drag her away again. He said he used a knife and tried to stop the bleeding before calling 911.
“It was brutal,” Smith said. “Seeing the same woman I’ve loved for the last 25-30 years just ripped apart by two animals was just … I’ll never get that image out of my mind.”
Three More Dogs Found Dead
The new investigation began after the remains of three dogs were found inside the trailer where Cowan and Smith had been living.
Fox said a resident on Bluebonnet Drive shared photos with WESH 2 showing Brevard County sheriff’s deputies and animal services officers at the property as they collected animal remains from inside the trailer near the corner of Astor Drive.
No one was at the home when WESH 2 arrived, according to Fox.
Deputies were trying to determine whether Smith had left the dogs behind after Cowan’s death. Fox said Smith had “since disappeared” from the area at the time of the report, and authorities were trying to learn more about what happened inside the trailer.
Fox also showed a cage outside the home and said a neighbor told him one of the three dogs was found dead inside a cage.
“They’re on the ground,” Fox said, describing what could be seen at the property. “Out front, you can see one of the cages.”
The later update in the case made the situation even more serious. Authorities said Smith had not checked on the dogs since June 2, and deputies reported there was no sign of food, water, or air conditioning inside the home.
Smith was later arrested and faced charges including aggravated felony animal cruelty. He posted bond and was released.
Sheriff Says Inaction Cost More Lives
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey addressed the case after the dead dogs were found and tied the new animal cruelty investigation to the earlier fatal mauling.
“Jodi Cowan lost her life because of the inaction; three dogs have now died because of this,” Ivey said.
That statement captures the frustration around the case. This was not just one bad event followed by another unrelated discovery. To neighbors and investigators, the two incidents now appear connected by neglect, missed warnings, or failures by people responsible for animals in their care.
A necropsy was ordered on the dogs found dead in the trailer to determine more about how they died.
The facts are still being sorted out, but the picture is grim. A woman was killed by dogs that escaped a nearby property, and weeks later, dogs connected to that same victim’s home were found dead in conditions deputies described as lacking basic necessities.
There is a cruelty in both sides of the story. Cowan’s death was violent and sudden. The deaths of the three dogs appear to have been slower, quieter, and hidden inside a trailer until the smell forced someone to notice.
Neighbors Question The System
Fox spoke with a neighbor named Lance, who lives around the corner and said the discovery of the dead animals was disturbing, especially after Cowan had already been killed on that same property.
“You would think a woman just got killed in front, in that exact property,” Lance said. “You would think that somebody would go back there and get her dogs.”
Lance also said the case should lead to a broader discussion about animal services complaints in the area. He criticized what he called slow response times and said residents are often expected to provide their names when reporting problems, which can then become part of the public record.
That, he said, can make people afraid of retaliation from neighbors.
“It’s a combination of factors coming together,” Lance told Fox. “Now we’re at the point where, I mean, there are a ton of dogs running loose at all times and mean dogs, not just little dogs, big dogs.”
His comments point to a problem that often shows up after a tragedy: people say there were warning signs, but the system either moved too slowly or made it too difficult for residents to keep reporting concerns.
Animal control issues can be complicated, especially when complaints involve neighbors who may still live nearby. But when people feel unsafe reporting dangerous dogs, the whole neighborhood becomes more vulnerable.
An Eviction Notice And More Questions
Fox reported that neighbors said there was an eviction notice on the door of the trailer to prevent anyone from living there.
That detail raises more questions about what happened after Cowan died. If the home was no longer being actively cared for, then who was responsible for making sure the animals inside had food, water, and air conditioning?
Fox said he reached out to Smith to try to get more information about the remains found inside the home where Smith had been living, but Smith did not return the request for comment at the time of the report.
The lack of answers has left the neighborhood with two investigations unfolding close together. Cutler faces a manslaughter charge tied to the fatal mauling, while Smith’s arrest brought new allegations after the dogs were found dead in the trailer he shared with Cowan.
The tragedy is no longer only about one deadly attack. It is about what happened before the attack, what happened after it, and whether multiple animals and one woman were failed by people who had a duty to act.
A Neighborhood Still Looking For Accountability
The discovery of three dead dogs inside Cowan’s home has made an already painful case feel even worse for neighbors on Bluebonnet Drive.
Fox’s report showed a community still trying to understand how a fatal mauling could happen, how the victim’s own animals could later be found dead, and why the warning signs around loose or dangerous dogs may not have been handled sooner.
Cutler’s case is still moving through court, and Smith’s animal cruelty case adds another layer for investigators. Meanwhile, the deaths of the three dogs are being examined through necropsy results and sheriff’s office records.
For Cowan’s neighbors, the question is not only who will be charged. It is whether the system will change before another person or animal is hurt.
The case began with a woman killed by dogs that escaped a nearby yard. It has now grown into a broader story about neglect, loose animals, community fear, and the hard truth that warnings often look clearer only after the damage is done.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, John developed a love for the great outdoors early on. With years of experience as a wilderness guide, he’s navigated rugged terrains and unpredictable weather patterns. John is also an avid hunter and fisherman who believes in sustainable living. His focus on practical survival skills, from building shelters to purifying water, reflects his passion for preparedness. When he’s not out in the wild, you can find him sharing his knowledge through writing, hoping to inspire others to embrace self-reliance.
