Lakesha Newsom, a Mississippi mother of three, died on March 27 after being mauled by four dogs in an early-morning attack on March 3. Sandra Harris, 54, was arrested on March 23 and charged with aggravated assault for allegedly showing extreme indifference to human life. Newsom endured catastrophic injuries, including amputations, and was placed on a ventilator after infection from her wounds; her family is demanding to know why the dogs have not been euthanized. The Holly Springs Police Department says the investigation is ongoing and asks anyone with information to call 662-649-6228.
Mississippi Mother Of Three Dies Weeks After Being Mauled By Four Dogs; Family Demands Answers
Lakesha NewsomCredit: Gofundme
A Mississippi mother of three, Lakesha Newsom, has died weeks after being attacked by four dogs in an early-morning mauling on March 3. Newsom passed away on Friday, March 27, at Regional One Health in Memphis, Tennessee, leaving behind 11-year-old twins and a 13-year-old, relatives and authorities said.
Arrest And Charges
According to a Holly Springs Police Department press release and local reporting by WREG, Sandra Harris, 54, was arrested on March 23 in connection with the mauling. Harris was booked into the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and charged with aggravated assault for allegedly manifesting extreme indifference to human life. It was not immediately clear whether she has retained legal counsel. PEOPLE and other outlets reported they were unable to reach the Holly Springs Police Department for additional comment.
Injuries, Treatment And Family Response
Newsom suffered catastrophic injuries in the attack. Her sister said Newsom’s right arm and right leg were amputated, and a GoFundMe page for the family noted she was heavily sedated and placed on a ventilator after bacteria and infection from the wounds spread rapidly through her body. Family members described her long struggle and moments when the dogs stopped and then resumed attacking when she tried to move.
“I know them dogs were trying to kill me, and I fought them as long as I could,” Newsom told WREG before her death. “I just kept saying, ‘God, no. I shall live.’”
Her sister DeWaylia Young said the family is “completely shattered.” Newsom’s mother, Rosie Young, publicly questioned why the animals involved in the attack remain alive: “To have these dogs still alive, how fair is that? Why are they keeping these dogs from being put down? We lost Kesha.” An aunt also told WREG that Newsom ‘‘had to lie there for hours and hours before anybody helped her.’’
Investigation Ongoing
The Holly Springs Police Department said the case remains under investigation and asked anyone with information to contact the department at 662-649-6228. Authorities have not released additional details about the dogs’ current status or whether animal-control officials have recommended euthanasia.
This tragic case has left the Newsom family seeking answers about responsibility, animal handling, and whether more could have been done to prevent the attack. The community has been urged to share any information with investigators.
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