Second deadly central Alabama dog attack in in 3 days claims life of 50-year-old grandmother in Bessemer

BESSEMER, Ala. (WIAT) — The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office says 50-year-old Delores Musgrove died as a direct result of wounds she sustained after being attacked by multiple dogs in an overgrown vacant lot near Martin Street and Norwood Avenue in Bessemer.

Her mother, Brenda Murkerson, and her father and siblings are now suffering an unimaginable loss.

“I wonder what her last thoughts were, ‘Am I going to die? Am I going to die alone?’ Because she was so afraid of dying alone,” Murkerson said.

Bessemer Police said the investigation into Thursday’s attack is ongoing.

This family is no stranger to grief. In 2007, they lost their son, a U.S. Marine who was killed in Iraq. Now, they’re having to plan for their daughter’s memorial service.

“She loved everybody,” Murkerson said. “Nobody should have to bury their child.”

Murkerson said her daughter, who the family nicknamed “Dee,” was the mother of two adult children and a grandmother to three grandchildren.

Murkerson believes the attack could have been prevented.

“Just being on a leash, being behind a fence, somewhere where they cannot attack anyone,” she said.

Nikki Jones lives right next to the vacant lot where the attack took place.

“It’s surprising to hear, but at the same time it’s not, because they have been loose for months and get aggressive,” Jones said. “They have chased multiple people.”

Jones believes that the dogs she’s familiar with are the same ones who attacked and killed Musgrove. She says she has adjusted her gate to try and prevent dogs from getting into the backyard where her young children play.

“I fixed the gate and came out here with my stick,” she said. “I was on alert, because unfortunately you have to be on alert.”

WIAT has reached out to Bessemer Police to try and find out if the dogs are owned by someone who lives in the neighborhood, but we have not heard back. The city of Bessemer does have a leash law.

WIAT has also reached out to Bessemer Animal Control for answers. The victim’s mother says she was told that some of the dogs involved in Thursday’s attack had been put down.    

Musgrove attended Oak Grove High School in Bessemer and lived in Adger; however, her parents stated that she had recently been staying in Bessemer, not far from where the dog attack occurred.

Her brother, Derrick Murkerson, believes the city needs to do more about stray dogs.

“There’s too many stray dogs running around,” he said. “Nobody’s taking responsibility for their dogs, and I feel like the city should do something about that.”

Bessemer does have a leash law, but Murkerson said he believes it’s not being enforced. Murkerson said he was at work Thursday morning when his father called him about the shocking news of his sister’s death.

“Nobody should have to die that way,” he said. “Not one person deserves that.”