83-Year-Old Florida Man Mauled to Death and Dismembered by Dogs, Witnesses Say

An 83-year-old man in Florida was mauled to death by a pack of dogs and dismembered in a vicious attack that left the victim barely recognizable, two witnesses say.

Michael Downing was found dead last Friday in the backyard of a home next to his apartment complex, CBS News reports. Four dogs that live nearby are being blamed for the killing.

“By far it’s probably the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” witness Mackenzie Partin told WJAX. “There was only 30% left of his body probably. They had dragged him underneath, back up underneath, to eat on him.” Another witness corroborated Partin’s account.

Downing’s autopsy and official cause of death have not been released.

The dogs’ owner was not home at the time of the attack, according to the Florida Times-Union. It’s unclear if he will face criminal charges.

The four dogs include a Rottweiler and three mixed breeds that are part German shepherd, Rottweiler, and chow chow, the newspaper said. The animals are between the ages of 3 and 5 and have been seized by animal control.