BELMONR COUNTY, Ohio – Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack has released details about a fatal animal attack that occurred Saturday night in Stewartsville.
Around 10:27 p.m. on November 15, 2025, deputies were dispatched to the Proger residence for a report of an animal attack. When deputies arrived, family members told them that the victim, identified as Jodi Proger, was trapped inside a pen with a male deer being kept on the property. The deer had reportedly attacked her.
Family members attempted to intervene and tried to dispatch the animal before deputies arrived, but responding deputies ultimately put the deer down to secure the scene.
Ms. Proger succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Belmont County Coroner’s Office responded to assist with the investigation.
No foul play is suspected. The Belmont County Sheriff’s Office has notified the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which is now coordinating with the Ohio Department of Agriculture regarding the incident.
