A 26-year-old Arizona mother was killed Friday afternoon when three dogs attacked her and her 5-year-old son at her mother’s home in Big River, California, and she stepped in to protect the child, authorities said.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said the boy survived and was taken to a hospital with severe bite injuries, then released. The dogs were later euthanized, and the county coroner’s division has taken over the death investigation. Officials did not identify the dogs’ breed or say what may have triggered the attack, which happened during a family visit to see a litter of puppies. The case has drawn attention because it involved a young child, a family home and a sudden attack in a small, rural community along the Colorado River near the Arizona line.
Deputies said they were called about 3:30 p.m. Fri., Feb. 27, to the 6700 block of Wingfoot Court, a quiet road in the unincorporated community of Big River. Investigators said Emily Panuco of Parker, Arizona, had arrived with her 5-year-old son to visit her mother and see several-week-old puppies. The puppies were in a cardboard box near the front door, the sheriff’s department said, and three adult dogs were also on the property, including the puppies’ mother. The boy walked up to pet the puppies and the adult dogs attacked him, the department said. Panuco intervened and was also attacked. “Despite lifesaving efforts,” the department said, she was pronounced dead because of her injuries.
The sheriff’s department said the boy suffered two severe dog bites and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment before being released. Officials did not share an update on his condition in the days after the attack, and the hospital was not identified. Investigators also did not say whether any other people were at the home when deputies arrived or whether anyone witnessed the start of the attack beyond statements gathered later. The news release described the call as a reported dog attack at a residence and said deputies from the Colorado River Station and Needles Police Department responded. That station covers a wide, remote stretch of eastern San Bernardino County where towns and homes sit far apart and emergency help can be miles away.
Animal control actions came quickly after the attack, but key questions remained. The sheriff’s department said the three adult dogs involved were euthanized by CRIT Animal Control, a reference to the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Officials did not say where the dogs were taken, when the decision was made to euthanize them, or what happened to the puppies mentioned in the report. Authorities also did not say whether the adult dogs had shown aggression before, whether they were vaccinated, or whether there had been earlier complaints tied to the property. Investigators did not release the mother’s name or the child’s name, and they did not provide details about the child’s injuries beyond describing them as severe bites.
The incident is being treated as a death investigation, and the sheriff’s coroner division is now handling that part of the case, officials said. Coroner cases typically include a review of medical information and an examination to confirm the cause and manner of death. Officials did not say when that work might be complete or whether additional findings will be released. The sheriff’s department also did not announce any criminal charges or citations. In cases involving fatal dog attacks, investigators often try to establish who owned the animals, what warnings or controls were in place, and whether any laws were violated, but authorities in this case have not publicly outlined that kind of timeline.
Big River is a small desert community on the California side of the Colorado River, where residents often keep dogs as pets and for property protection and where visitors can arrive from nearby Arizona towns in a short drive. The sheriff’s department said Panuco and her son traveled from Parker to her mother’s home to see the puppies, a visit that began as a family stop and ended in tragedy within minutes. The department’s summary pointed to the setting at the front door, with the puppies in a box and the adult dogs nearby, as the moment the situation changed. Officials have not said whether the dogs were confined, leashed or roaming freely on the property when the child approached the puppies.
Relatives and friends began sharing tributes online as the case spread beyond the river communities and into the Los Angeles media market. A GoFundMe organized by a relative described Panuco as a devoted mother and said her husband was facing an “unimaginable loss” while caring for their children. The fundraiser did not describe the child’s recovery and did not provide additional details about the attack beyond what officials had released. Authorities have not confirmed family statements beyond the basic facts in the sheriff’s report. Officials also have not said whether family members have spoken with investigators since the dogs were euthanized and the coroner division assumed the case.
For investigators, the next steps will likely center on collecting records and clarifying what happened before deputies arrived. That can include interviews, photographs of the scene and a review of any veterinary documentation tied to the dogs and puppies. Officials have not said whether they have video from the neighborhood or whether there were any calls for help beyond the initial report. The sheriff’s department asked anyone with information to contact Deputy R. Flores at the Colorado River Station and said anonymous tips can be provided through the WeTip hotline. The agency has not scheduled a public briefing, and it has not said whether it expects to release a final report once the coroner work is complete.
The sheriff’s department has released only a short timeline so far, leaving many details unknown as the investigation continues. As of Tuesday, officials had not identified a suspect or announced any charges, and they had not said when they expect to provide an update on the findings from the death investigation.
Author note: Last updated March 4, 2026.