U.S. postal carrier mauled to death by pack of dogs in Florida 

A Florida mail carrier died after being mauled by a pack of dogs after her truck broke down on Sunday.  

U.S. Postal Service carrier Pamela Jane Rock, 61, was working a route in the Interlachen Lake Estate area of Putnam County when her delivery truck broke down. 

At some point, at least five dogs attacked her. Residents from the neighborhood heard the woman’s cries and rushed over to help, said Col. Joseph Wells, chief deputy of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. One of the neighbors also called the police. 

"One of the neighbors even brought his firearm along and fired several shots into the air and to the ground in an attempt to disrupt the attack," Wells said during a press conference on Tuesday. "That was unsuccessful, and it was the neighbors and the owner that were able to physically remove the dogs from the victim."

When officials arrived at the scene, Rock was lying on the street with heavy bleeding. The owner of the dogs had already secured them behind a fence. 

Rock was transported to a local community medical center and then transferred to UF Health Shands Trauma Center in Gainesville, where she died on Monday. 

"The investigation is very active at this point," Wells told reporters. "We are in frequent communications with the state attorney's office as we explore options as far as possible criminal cases as this case continues."

"Because it's a death investigation, it does now fall to the state attorney's office homicide investigative unit as we explore possible criminal charges," he added, without specifying what those charges could be.

An initial investigation led police to believe that the dogs escaped from the fenced yard by moving rocks that were lining the fence. 

Putnam County Animal control took custody of the dive dogs identified in the attack. They will be euthanized at a later date. 

"Our hearts are with the victim and her family as they navigate through this tragic event," Sheriff H.D. DeLoach said. "It is imperative that dog owners take responsibility in keeping their animals in a secured location for their safety and those around."