COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A mother and son who were found guilty in the death of a woman who was brutally attacked by a dog will each serve at least 14 years in prison. In the trial of Adam and Susan Withers, the two were found guilty in February on all six charges filed, including involuntary ma nslaughter. For a previous report on this story view the video player above. On Wednesday they were each sentenced to 11-to-16.5 years for involuntary manslaughter, 18 months for failing to confine or restrain a vicious dog and 18 months for failing to keep a vicious dog under reasonable control. The sentences are to run concurrently, totaling at least 14 years and up to 19.5 years in prison. Mother charged in death of infant found in Plain City garbage truck Those charges stem from the death of 73-year-old JoAnn Echelbarger, who was tending to her flower bed at her Kildow Court home in Ashville where the dogs attacked her. She was taken to a Columbus hospital where she was later pronounced dead. The coroner testified that Echelbarger’s injuries were gruesome and extensive. The jury saw the body camera footage and crime scene pictures from the day of the attacks. On that day, Ashville police arrived at Echelbarger’s home, where both dogs were located. An officer shot and killed one dog, which reportedly became aggressive towards him, but the other dog ran away from the scene. The second dog allegedly attacked and killed another dog near Teays Valley East Middle School, before being located by deputies with the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office. The owner of the dog that was killed was reportedly able to escape. A deputy reported that he ran over the dog, which was in the vicinity of a park and another residence, which included a dog outside in the yard. The deputy shot and killed the dog before it could attack anyone else, according to the Ashville Police Department A 911-caller told the operator that she was witnessing one dog attack a man and his dog before the other got loose and approached her, but did not attack her. She also reported that the local dog warden and police had been aware of other incidents related to the dogs. Cold case murder suspect in death of Ohio State student faces judge The trial lasted three days before the guilty verdict. The Pickaway County court found that additional charges of the case, one for third-degree involuntary manslaughter, along with two misdemeanor dangerous dog charges, would merge into the first three counts, respectively. Adam Withers took the stand in his own defense during the trial and his defense attorney said he and his client were expecting the guilty verdicts after the trial’s conclusion in February. “He didn’t seem surprised or shocked,” Adam Withers’ attorney Peter Scranton said. “I mean, he saw what everybody else saw. I mean, we didn’t know what was going to happen, but I don’t think he was surprised.”  The family of Jo Ann Echelbarger shares a hug after a guilty verdict was reached in the fatal dog attack that took her life. Adam, 36, had previously been charged with owning a dangerous dog twice, facing two counts in May 2024 and once in Dec. 2023. He was also charged with owning an unconfined dog in Oct. 2023. The dangerous dog charges were dismissed in court, with prosecutors citing insufficient evidence, while he paid a fine for the unconfined dog charge after waiving his right to a trial. Susan Withers, 61, did not take the stand during the trial, and had no prior charges related to dog ownership. In a statement on behalf of JoAnn Echlebarger, attorneys expressed gratitude for the trial's conclusion and sentence, but also said the estate will be filing civil suits against the Withers family and other parties. How traffic cameras will be further restricted in Ohio "Today’s sentencing of Adam and Susan Withers brings a measure of justice to the Echelbarger family. For months, they grieved the loss of Jo Ann while hoping the criminal justice system would hold the Withers accountable for their role in this horrific tragedy. That accountability came today, and the family is grateful." "Jo Ann died in a violent and preventable attack enabled not only by the Witherses but also by others who saw danger and looked the other way.... The civil case will pursue accountability from everyone who allowed these dangerous dogs to remain a threat to the community. The Echelbargers are committed to holding them accountable so that no other family endures the same tragic loss they are grieving."  ...read more read less