Shepherd Facing Manslaughter Charges After His Dogs Identified As Those That Killed A 20 Year Old Italian Student

An Italian shepherd is facing manslaughter charges after it was revealed that he owned dogs previously thought to be strays that ripped this 20-year-old Italian student to shreds whilst she was strolling through the woods with a friend.

An autopsy found that the girl did everything she could to try and fend off the dogs as traces of dog hair were found under her fingernails, and reveal how she clawed at the animals whilst they ripped into her body.

Simona Cavallaro, the 20-year-old student victim, died after she was attacked by the dogs in the southern Italian town of Satriano last Thursday (26th August).

Simona Cavallaro, 20, died after being mauled by a pack of stray dogs while walking with her boyfriend, in Satriano, Italy, in August, 2021. (Newsflash)

The autopsy and investigation by local authorities revealed that the pack of dogs that attacked the girl belonged to a local 44-year-old shepherd who was not named.

Twelve of the dogs have now been captured by local authorities and eight of them were found to be so aggressive that they needed sedation.

Several of the captured dogs had blood stains on their fur which will now be sampled by forensics and used to identify which specific animals attacked Simona.

Simona Cavallaro (left) photographed with her father Alfio Cavallaro (right), who died after being mauled by a pack of stray dogs while walking with her boyfriend, in Satriano, Italy, in August, 2021. (Newsflash)

The local news site il Riformista reports that Simona and her friend, who was not named, had just finished the picnic in the sun with a group of friends when they deiced to take a stroll through the woods of Monte Fiorino.

Originally local media reported that Simona was with her boyfriend, but they have now confirmed it was just a friend.

During the stroll, the two were surrounded by the pack of dogs at which point Simona decided to try and run back to her car whilst her friend ran in another direction to hide in an old shed.

Simona Cavallaro, 20, died after being mauled by a pack of stray dogs while walking with her boyfriend, in Satriano, Italy, in August, 2021. (Newsflash)

Simona was outpaced by the pack of dogs, which caught up with her and tore her to shreds.

Emergency services arrived at the scene and transported the 20-year-old to a local hospital where she died shortly after arriving from her horrific injuries.

The 20-year-old’s father, a local jeweller who was not named, told il Riformista: “My beloved daughter has passed away and I feel like half of me has died with her.”

Simona Cavallaro, 20, died after being mauled by a pack of stray dogs while walking with her boyfriend, in Satriano, Italy, in August, 2021. (Newsflash)

Ernesto Alecci, the mayor of Soverato, said: “There are no words that can provide comfort in a time like this.”

The mayor declared a day of mourning in the girl’s memory and banned all musical activity in the town main square.

A manslaughter investigation is ongoing into the shepherd’s ownership of the dogs.