Cancer patient mauled by dogs dies
SHELTON, Wash. -- A wheelchair-bound cancer patient who was unable to defend himself as he was mauled by dogs in his own home has died.
The Mason County Coroner's Office said 55-year-old Michael Warner died Friday at a nursing home in Shelton.
Investigators said Warner was put in an unthinkable situation by his daughter and her friend who was also Warner's unlicensed caretaker.
Warner was attacked after he was left lying on the floor of his Parkland home in the 12100 block of Sixth Avenue East with 18 puppies and several adult dogs who had been given no food for days, investigators said.
Warner, who was battling advanced cancer, was unable to care for or defend himself due to medical condition.
"We believe some animals were left behind that were not fed and some of the puppies got to him," said Pierce County Det. Ed Troyer. "Not intentionally attacked him, but used him as a food source. There's just not a nicer way to say it.
"They just didn't know any better and he was on the floor, incapacitated for a couple of days, and became a victim of that."
The case came to light last month when Yvonne Bell brought her father to Tacoma General Hospital with injuries. Bell and her friend, Jennifer Markwith, were arrested, accused of failing to take care of Warner. No charges have been filed.
"We believe there may be some drugs involved," Troyer said.
The Mason County Coroner's Office said 55-year-old Michael Warner died Friday at a nursing home in Shelton.
Investigators said Warner was put in an unthinkable situation by his daughter and her friend who was also Warner's unlicensed caretaker.
Warner was attacked after he was left lying on the floor of his Parkland home in the 12100 block of Sixth Avenue East with 18 puppies and several adult dogs who had been given no food for days, investigators said.
Warner, who was battling advanced cancer, was unable to care for or defend himself due to medical condition.
"We believe some animals were left behind that were not fed and some of the puppies got to him," said Pierce County Det. Ed Troyer. "Not intentionally attacked him, but used him as a food source. There's just not a nicer way to say it.
"They just didn't know any better and he was on the floor, incapacitated for a couple of days, and became a victim of that."
The case came to light last month when Yvonne Bell brought her father to Tacoma General Hospital with injuries. Bell and her friend, Jennifer Markwith, were arrested, accused of failing to take care of Warner. No charges have been filed.
"We believe there may be some drugs involved," Troyer said.