In a heartbreaking incident, authorities have confirmed that a woman found dead in a grassy lot in Bessemer, Alabama, on Thursday morning, July 24, 2025, was fatally mauled by multiple dogs. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Delores M. Musgrove, a 50-year-old resident of Adger.
According to officials, Musgrove suffered severe injuries during the attack and was pronounced dead at the scene. Bessemer police responded to a call reporting a person down in the 100 block of Martin Street at approximately 6:54 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found Musgrove unresponsive in an overgrown vacant lot at the intersection of Martin Street and Norwood Avenue. She was declared deceased at 7:28 a.m., as confirmed by Detective Justin Burmeister.
Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates stated that Musgrove was attacked by multiple dogs, though specific details regarding the breeds, number, or ownership of the animals involved have not been disclosed as the investigation continues. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the dogs have been located or removed from the area.
This tragic event marks the second fatal dog attack in Alabama this week and the fourth in the state in 2025. Earlier this week, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, a 7-year-old boy in Chilton County was killed in a dog attack on the property where he resided. In that case, the owner surrendered nine dogs—consisting of Shepherd, Pit Bull Terrier, Labrador, and Hound mixes—ranging in age from six months to three years. All nine dogs were subsequently euthanized by Chilton County Animal Control.
The other two fatal dog attacks this year occurred earlier in 2025. In March, 6-month-old Ember Southard was killed in an Alabaster home, and in February, a 46-year-old woman in Tuscaloosa County was fatally mauled while caring for a pack of dogs in the owner’s absence.
The circumstances surrounding Musgrove’s death remain under active investigation by the Bessemer Police Department. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Those with details are encouraged to contact Bessemer Police at 205-425-2411, the Tip Line at 205-428-3541, or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.