Texas woman killed by feral hogs in pre-dawn attack

Authorities say a Texas woman found dead on Sunday morning was the victim of a feral hog attack, after the medical examiner's report confirmed their initial fears.

What are the details?

Christine Rollins, 59, was discovered outside the Anahuac home of an elderly couple she cared for, after they became concerned that she had not arrived at her usual time. Rollins, a beloved mother and grandmother, was found deceased with a wound to her head — believed to be from a fall — and multiple bite marks on her body that appeared to be from animals of various sizes.

During a news conference Monday, Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne told reporters that the autopsy confirmed initial fears that Rollins' death was caused by "exsanguination due to feral hog assault," the Daily Mail reported.

According to CNN, authorities believe "that 'multiple hogs' assaulted Rollins when she arrived at work, likely between 6 and 6:30 a.m., when it was still dark outside." She had exited her vehicle and locked the door behind her when the attack occurred.

"My detectives and the criminal investigation team felt like [feral hogs] was what it was but we couldn't come close to announcing until we had the cause of death from the medical examiner's office," Hawthorne said. The sheriff did not give further details, but added, "In my 35 years, I will tell you, it's one of the worse things I've ever seen."

Caretaker attacked, killed by pack of wild hogs in Chambers Countywww.youtube.com

Anything else?

The Houston Chronicle noted that feral hog attacks on humans are incredibly rare, reporting that "only four fatal wild pig attacks have ever been reported in the United States, including three instances where the pig was injured during a hunt."

Wild hogs are an invasive species in several states, including Texas, where "landowners can get rid of a hog [on] their property by any means necessary," the Chronicle added.