BESSEMER, Ala. — A devastating incident has claimed the life of Delores M. Musgrove, a 50-year-old resident of Adger, Alabama, who was fatally attacked by a group of dogs in Bessemer. Authorities confirmed her death on Friday, July 25, 2025, following a harrowing scene that has left the community shaken and grieving.
The attack occurred early Thursday morning in the 100 block of Martin Street. At approximately 7 a.m., Bessemer police responded to a call reporting a person lying unresponsive in a grassy area. Upon arrival, officers discovered Musgrove’s body and pronounced her deceased at the scene by 7:28 a.m., according to Detective Justin Burmeister.
An autopsy later confirmed that Musgrove died as a result of a vicious dog attack involving multiple animals, said Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates. The specific breeds and ownership of the dogs involved have not yet been made public.
Delores’s death marks at least the fourth fatal dog mauling in Alabama in 2024, and the second such tragedy in the same week. Just days earlier, a 7-year-old boy was fatally mauled in Chilton County, leading to the euthanization of nine dogs surrendered to authorities. Earlier this year, Alabama also mourned the deaths of a six-month-old baby girl in Alabaster and a 46-year-old woman in Tuscaloosa County, both victims of brutal dog attacks under different circumstances.
Delores M. Musgrove is remembered as a woman taken far too soon by a senseless and tragic act. Her loss has reignited urgent conversations around public safety, animal control, and the responsibilities of pet ownership. Each of the recent dog attack victims were in places they should have felt safe — near their homes, helping others, or simply going about their daily routines.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Musgrove’s death, including whether any criminal negligence may have contributed. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bessemer Police Department at 205-425-2411, the Tip Line at 205-428-3541, or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
As her family mourns the heartbreaking loss of Delores, the community is left searching for answers and a renewed sense of urgency to prevent further tragedies.
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