Dogs owner charged with felony week after woman dies from being attacked in her yard in Chatham Co.
CHATHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- An 84-year-old woman was killed in a dog attack outside her Chatham County home, and the man accused of owning the animals is now facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in addition to earlier misdemeanors.
Betty Alston was found dead in her yard on Alston Road after family members said she was attacked by three dogs - two Cane Corsos and a Bulldog mix. Relatives told authorities the dogs were aggressive and circling a family member's car when he arrived, forcing him to fight them off with a gardening tool.
Unimaginable tragedy.District Attorney Jeff Nieman
Dennis Faulkner, 32, had already been charged with six misdemeanors in the case. During a court appearance on Wednesday, prosecutors described his criminal record as "horrendous" and argued the attack could have been prevented if the dogs had been properly restrained.
District Attorney Jeff Nieman called the incident an "unimaginable tragedy."
"Miss Alston lost her life, and that is a tragedy for her and her family," Nieman said. "We were in consultation on this case from the beginning. We reviewed the relevant law and the facts of the case, and the decision to charge with involuntary manslaughter was one that we came to an agreement with the sheriff's office and that was the charge that was brought forward."
Faulkner is being held on a $250,000 secured bond on the manslaughter charge, along with an additional $10,000 bond for a probation violation. Prosecutors said this was not the first time he had been accused of allowing dogs to roam loose in the neighborhood.
According to the Chatham County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to Faulkner's home on Alston Road in 2025 regarding two other dogs that were later removed. Authorities said he had been warned about county animal laws. Neighbors also reported repeated concerns about loose dogs going through trash and creating safety issues, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said additional charges are possible.
The dogs remain in the custody of the Chatham County Sheriff's Office.
