BURNETTSVILLE, Ind. (AP) A coroner says a northern Indiana man died when his pet pit bull bit into his jugular vein and that bite marks to his forearms show he had tried to fend off the animal.
State police say a family member found 58-year-old Joseph Hines dead at his home outside the White County town of Burnettsville on Monday night.
County Coroner Matt Westerhouse tells the Journal & Courier that an autopsy Wednesday found no medical problems that might have caused Hines to pass out before the attack. He says Hines died from blood loss.
Neighbor Brad Holcomb tells WLFI-TV the dog is friendly and that he often saw Hines walking it around the rural area about 30 miles north of Lafayette.