SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. (AP) - A Spotsylvania County grand jury handed down an indictment today against a woman whose pit bulls are alleged to have mauled to death an 82-year-old woman. Spotsylvania Commonwealth's Attorney William Neely says 36-year-old Deanna Large was indicted on a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Dorothy Sullivan.

Involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.

Large was also indicted on three misdemeanor counts of allowing a dangerous dog to run at large.

Sullivan and her small dog Buttons were killed on March 8th as they walked in Sullivan's yard in Partlow. All three dogs that took part in the attack have since been killed.

Large admitted owning one of the dogs, but Neely has previously said that investigators found she owned all three and had been warned to keep them under better control.

Neely has said this is the first such case involving an involuntary manslaughter charge.

Date published: 3/21/2005

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