Woman arrested in connection to death of 86-year-old who was mauled by dogs

BAXLEY, Ga. (WTOC/Gray News) - A Georgia woman has been arrested in connection with the death of an 86-year-old who was mauled by two dogs in her yard on Tuesday.

According to the Appling County Sheriff’s Office, 53-year-old Misty Ann Branch, of Baxley, has been charged with reckless conduct and involuntary manslaughter.

Deputies were initially dispatched to a Poplar Lane property at around noon on Wednesday.

Officials arrived and found the 86-year-old victim, identified as Maria Nunez, dead outside her home.

According to Appling County Chief Deputy Gene Davis, it didn’t take long for investigators to see Nunez had died as a result of a dog attack.

Davis says thanks to the security footage, investigators were able to find the two dogs that were responsible.

Branch, Nunez’s neighbor, was the owner of the dogs, according to the sheriff’s office. Both dogs have since been removed from the house and Branch was booked into the county jail.

Nunez’s death has sparked concern over the lack of animal control in the county.

In 2024, another woman, 59-year-old Estine Castillo, was attacked by four dogs while walking.

Castillo survived her attack, but Nunez did not.

Although the two incidents are completely unrelated to each other, another vicious dog attack has created unease to those weighing in online; it’s a concern in the county that Davis says they are working on.

“We do have a dog problem, just like every other county that does not have an animal control unit, but we are working with the board of commissioners to rectify the situation,” Davis said.