In a tragic incident that has left a Georgia community reeling, 20-year-old Samara Rogers was fatally attacked by two dogs while walking to school on the morning of Dec. 18 in Augusta.
Authorities have since charged the dogs’ owner, 55-year-old Charles Blackwell, with involuntary manslaughter.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the 3500 block of Ira Road at approximately 10:30 a.m. following reports of a dog attack.
They arrived to find Rogers severely mauled, with fatal injuries to her face and torso. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:05 a.m., according to the Coroner’s Office.
Blackwell, identified as the primary owner of the dogs, was arrested hours later. Arrest warrants allege that his negligence led to Rogers’ death, though he had no intention to cause harm.
Community Mourns Loss
Rogers’ untimely death has devastated her family and friends. Her mother, Tameka Harris, expressed profound grief, describing her daughter’s final moments as unimaginably painful.
“I didn’t know where she was. Why like that? It’s such a painful death,” Harris told WRDW. “And I could just hear her saying, ‘Help me.’ In my mind, I could just hear her saying, ‘Help me.’”
A GoFundMe campaign set up by family friend Yashaka Brigham described Rogers as a compassionate animal lover with a “beautiful soul” and big dreams for the future.
“She loved animals, by the way,” the fundraiser reads, highlighting the heartbreaking irony of her death.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack. It remains unclear whether Blackwell has retained legal counsel.
The case has drawn attention to the dangers of improper animal management and raised questions about the accountability of pet owners.
