Betty Alston killed in Chatham County dog attack; owner charged
The medical examiner attributed Alston’s death to an animal attack; investigators said three dogs belonging to a nearby owner were involved.
Incident summary
Chatham County investigators said Betty Alston died from injuries sustained during an animal attack after she was found outside her Alston Road residence with three dogs nearby. Investigators identified the dogs as belonging to Dennis O’Keith Faulkner. After the medical examiner’s determination, Faulkner was charged with felony involuntary manslaughter in addition to earlier animal-at-large and vaccination-related misdemeanors. A September 4 WRAL follow-up reported that the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner autopsy, released September 3, found multiple large penetrating wounds and blunt injuries consistent with a dog attack. The report listed the manner of death as accident and the means as assault. WRAL also reported that a grand jury returned an involuntary-manslaughter indictment July 14 and that Faulkner was due in court September 14. The Sept. 4 follow-up describes Alston as dying May 18, while WRAL’s contemporaneous May 19 report says she was found dead Tuesday morning, May 19; BiteDB retains May 19 as the incident date and flags the later discrepancy rather than silently changing the record.
Dennis O’Keith Faulkner was charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, three counts of allowing animals to roam at large and three vaccination-related misdemeanors. WRAL reported September 4 that a grand jury returned the involuntary-manslaughter indictment on July 14, that Faulkner had posted a $250,000 bond on May 28, and that a court hearing was scheduled for September 14. Charges are allegations unless and until adjudicated.
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Primary record used by BiteDB
WRAL, citing the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and medical examiner findings, reported that Betty Alston died from injuries sustained in an attack involving three dogs belonging to Dennis O’Keith Faulkner and that he was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Open original source ↗Additional sources
- Dogs owner charged with felony week after woman dies from being attacked in her yard in Chatham Co.Local television follow-up with medical-examiner and court-document details · 2026-05-27
- Autopsy report released months after 3 dogs fatally mauled 84-year-old woman near ApexWRAL follow-up citing North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and court record · 2026-09-04
What BiteDB does not infer
Breed is recorded only at the provenance level shown above. Missing injury details, dog history, ownership facts or circumstances remain unknown unless a reliable source establishes them. This record may be updated as police, animal-control, medical, court or follow-up reporting becomes available.
Date note: WRAL’s Sept. 4 autopsy follow-up says Alston died May 18, while its contemporaneous May 19 report says she was found dead Tuesday morning, May 19. BiteDB retains May 19 as the incident date and flags the discrepancy.