Pickensville -   96-year old Israel Pope's death is being called a mystery by Pickens County Sheriff David Abston.  Pope, an Alzheimer's victim, disappeared over the weekend.  His clothes and some bones were found  off Gore Rd. not far from his Pickensville..

The Sheriff's Department shot and killed 7 dogs belonging to the victim's former caregiver- his nephew. It suspects the dogs, which were part wolf, may have attacked Pope.   Sheriff Abston says it's unclear if Pope died of natural causes or  was killed by the dogs.

Donald Hudson told ABC 33/40  he has no problem believing the dogs may have eaten some of his uncle's remains, but insists Pope was already dead; they did not kill the elderly man.  Hudson said  the dogs looked after Pope and his 97-year old wife.

Sheriff Abston says he was not aware of prior complaints about the dogs. He says because so few  remains, no flesh,  have been recovered, there's no guarantee a cause of death will be determined.

 

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