Deputies killed an aggressive dog near the child, but investigators have not determined whether the animal caused her death.
GRAHAM, Wash. — A 5-year-old Spanaway girl was found dead outside a rural Pierce County home after her grandmother reported her missing, and investigators are examining whether the child suffered a fatal animal attack, authorities said.
The girl was found Aug. 13 at a home in the 30200 block of 92nd Avenue East in Graham. Deputies encountered a large, aggressive dog near her and shot the animal so they could reach the child, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said the girl had injuries consistent with an attack by a large animal, but no one witnessed what happened. Officials have not concluded that the dog found at the scene caused her death.
The grandmother called 911 at about 6:11 p.m. after realizing she could not find the girl. Authorities said the child had last been seen on the deck of the home and had been missing for about 10 minutes. The girl and her grandmother were visiting a family friend at the Graham property and were preparing to go camping.
Deputies began searching the rural property and found the girl within minutes. When they tried to approach her, the dog positioned near the child acted aggressively and prevented deputies from getting close enough to provide aid, investigators said. Deputies shot and killed the animal. They then reached the girl and determined that she had died.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Detective Josh Mills said investigators were treating the circumstances cautiously because there were no witnesses to the apparent attack. The injuries were consistent with those caused by a large animal, he said, but authorities were considering other possibilities and waiting for medical evidence before determining exactly what occurred.
The dog belonged to the homeowner, who was described as a family friend, according to investigators. Authorities said the child had encountered the dog before without a reported problem. The Sheriff’s Office found no documented history of aggressive behavior involving the animal. Neighbors interviewed by local news outlets described the dog as a cane corso, but investigators had not publicly established the breed in the reports reviewed for this story.
Authorities also have not ruled out the possibility that another animal may have been involved. The Graham property is in a wooded, rural area, and investigators said the lack of witnesses makes the medical examination important in establishing what caused the child’s injuries and death.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office is responsible for determining the official cause and manner of death. As of the latest reports reviewed, the office had not publicly announced those findings. Authorities also had not publicly released the girl’s name.
No arrests had been made and no criminal charges had been filed in connection with the death, the Sheriff’s Office said. Investigators continued reviewing the circumstances surrounding the girl’s disappearance and death while awaiting the medical examiner’s findings.
The investigation remains open, and authorities have emphasized that the presence of the aggressive dog does not by itself establish that it inflicted the child’s fatal injuries. The medical examiner’s determination is expected to provide key evidence about what happened.
Author note: Last updated August 18, 2026.