MARSHALL COUNTY, Ala. – A dog attack in Marshall County has killed one woman and seriously injured another.

Emergency crews from Guntersville and Marshall County responded to Jason Road at 8:00 Wednesday morning in reference to dogs attacking two women. The area is off of Alabama Highway 79 south.

Marshall County Sheriff Scott Walls described the scene as horrific. “It’s a sad, sad situation. It’s all family in this particular area. It’s just very unfortunate.”

Investigators say four dogs mauled the two women. One woman, identified as Tracey Patterson Cornelius, 46, of Guntersville was killed. The other woman, a family friend, was seriously injured and is being treated. Her name isn’t released.

Sheriff Walls says the women were apparently familiar with the dogs. “Evidently, the ladies were trying to break up a fight between the dogs, and that’s how it got started. Of course, from there it just got out of hand quickly. Just a terrible situation.”

The Marshall County Animal Control officer captured all four of the dogs involved in the attack. Sheriff Walls says they haven’t had any reports involving the dogs in the past. “The family says there have been no issues among the dogs. It’s something we’re going to investigate to see if there are issues and talk with some of the neighbors in the area.”

The dogs are in the care of animal control. They’ll be tested for rabies and most likely “humanely destroyed,” as the sheriff explained it. As for the possibility of anyone facing charges; that will come with the investigation.