Found Deceased IN - Jacqueline Watts, 33, Columbus, 3 March 2017

[Rosewater20]

Witnesses saw her chasing the dog but what happened when she was out of view. Most probably a tragic accident but is there still any tiny chance that she could have encountered anyone by the river ?

 

[GeeButtersnaps]

He also never said that ringo drowned.

Neither ringo nor Jackie were ever seen in the water, nor were they found in water.

Ringo and jackie were both found land: ringo on the east bank. Jackie on a sand bar.

That is true that is all we factually know at this point. He did say they hope to be able to give more answers after the autopsy (paraphrasing) so hopefully that means give the press more info. Hopefully we will all have a better idea of what happened after that.


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[gitana1]

Working at an animal shelter for nearly 12 years, your animals should ALWAYS have a collar with ID tags as well as microchip. Most large shelters (like the one I work at) have phenomenal lost and found systems. The easiest reunions happen when dogs are collared and/or microchipped - period. Our Animal Law Enforcement officers have tools to help them catch loose dogs because chasing them can be scary and causes them to run. I always carry leashes in my car as well as canned dog food - I've caught many strays just by tempting them and by gently cornering them. But I am trained to do so.

I relate to Jackie 100%. I wouldn't think twice before trying to capture a loose dog by a river. The animal rescue world lost a tremendous person. I do not know her, but animal rescuers - we are all one in the same and bonded by our love of animals.

I'm with you. I can see how this could happen. For many of us, dogs are like children. To leave them running around helpless and scared is similar to leaving a two war old wandering on the street.

Accidents can happen to the best of us. The world can never be 100% safe. But I think it's natural at a time like this, after getting to know the victim and her family and seeing her happy face smiling at us, to feel it hard to just say, "Oh, man. An accident. That's awful." and move on. It is natural to want to blame someone or something - the cops must not be right. There must be a killer on the loose. The police screwed up by not telling us it was an accident, right away. People who saw her running after the dog are at fault for not going to her aid. Jackie was at fault for chasing the dog. The county is at fault for not having a safer waterway or signs. The dog owners were at fault for allowing their dog to get loose.

Sometimes horrible accidents just happen to wonderful people. I can imagine how her husband and parents and friends feel. I don't know how they're going to cope with this. The happy excitement of going on a trip together, living a life together. And then this - a sudden, cold death. Such grim finality.

God bless her family and loved ones.

 

[Hiandmighty]

Witnesses saw her chasing the dog but what happened when she was out of view. Most probably a tragic accident but is there still any tiny chance that she could have encountered anyone by the river ?

Its possible, but maybe not probable. He said there was no sign of a struggle *at the car*...

I think Jackie collapsed on the sand bar and Ringo kept running and died coincidentally further on down.

 

[2Hope4]

What a tragedy!

For those that see a dog that 'might' be lost or need help. Do not chase it. That will cause most dogs to keep running. Instead, get the dogs attention, and either squat and act like you've found the most interesting thing ever, and many dogs will come see what you've found, or once you've gotten it's attention, go in the opposite direction, many dogs will follow you.

I've had my beagle picked up from my yard so many times that I no longer let her off leash. I live in the country where there is no leash law, but people will see her, assume she is lost for some reason, and pick her up. Luckily she is microchipped so quickly comes back home. Once she was gone a week, and when returned, the guy kept saying what an excellent hunter she was... newsflash, she's gun shy and not a hunting beagle. She lives inside.

RIP to Jacqueline and Ringo. Prayers for their families.

 

[Gardenista]

Oh wow.

Here's a 2007 video of news story from Boone County Indiana that talks about the dangers of these type dams. They give demonstrations showing the danger and talk about how there are groups that are trying to get all of them removed.

[video=youtube;IPaCXSwjLA4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPaCXSwjLA4[/video]

 

[Hiandmighty]

What a tragedy!

For those that see a dog that 'might' be lost or need help. Do not chase it. That will cause most dogs to keep running. Instead, get the dogs attention, and either squat and act like you've found the most interesting thing ever, and many dogs will come see what you've found, or once you've gotten it's attention, go in the opposite direction, many dogs will follow you.

I've had my beagle picked up from my yard so many times that I no longer let her off leash. I live in the country where there is no leash law, but people will see her, assume she is lost for some reason, and pick her up. Luckily she is microchipped so quickly comes back home. Once she was gone a week, and when returned, the guy kept saying what an excellent hunter she was... newsflash, she's gun shy and not a hunting beagle. She lives inside.

RIP to Jacqueline and Ringo. Prayers for their families.

My BIL came home to find a strange dog in his house lol. (Made friends in his yard with his dogs and then followed them inside his house through the dog door). I helped them find the owner. The dog was highly trained but was too smart for its own good and was an escape artist.

The owner we found said at one point, since the dogs escapes everywhere and they live near a highway (their backyard backed up to a highway), some people driving by thought it was a stray, and since they were on their way home a state away, took it with them. 4 hours away from home.

Those people had him for a few MONTHS before they got around to taking the dog to the vet to be checked. That is how he was reuniuted (chip).

Yes, the dog was on the side of the highway near its back yard, so it was in danger of getting hit, from --anyone who didn't know where he lived's --point of view. From the other point of view, strangers enticed his not lost dog into their car and took it to another state.

Two sides of the coin.. darn dog escaped about 3 more times where my BIL found him in his house lol. They sort of share the dog now. He visits their house when he gets bored at his. He is a golden for anyone curious. Too smart for his own good.

 

[AmyPond]

Unfortunately, its going to add to social media judgements and criticisms on animal rescue since they both died.

The only people I judge are irresponsible pet owners. (I don't know the details of Ringo getting loose. Perhaps with was a 1-time accident, as that can happen. But I've seen way too many irresponsible dog owners in my day. It sucks.) Jackie was obviously NOT an irresponsible dog owner. I feel so sad that this happened to her.

 

[AmyPond]

My BIL came home to find a strange dog in his house lol. (Made friends in his yard with his dogs and then followed them inside his house through the dog door). I helped them find the owner. The dog was highly trained but was too smart for its own good and was an escape artist.

The owner we found said at one point, since the dogs escapes everywhere and they live near a highway (their backyard backed up to a highway), some people driving by thought it was a stray, and since they were on their way home a state away, took it with them. 4 hours away from home.

Those people had him for a few MONTHS before they got around to taking the dog to the vet to be checked. That is how he was reuniuted (chip).

Yes, the dog was on the side of the highway near its back yard, so it was in danger of getting hit, from --anyone who didn't know where he lived's --point of view. From the other point of view, strangers enticed his not lost dog into their car and took it to another state.

Two sides of the coin.. darn dog escaped about 3 more times where my BIL found him in his house lol. They sort of share the dog now. He visits their house when he gets bored at his. He is a golden for anyone curious. Too smart for his own good.

Wow....that is pretty sad that a dog can outwit a human being so much. I've known people who have had dogs escape once. Maybe twice. But then they take extra precautions. Like never leaving the dog unattended. Or keeping it on leash ALWAYS. There is never an excuse for a dog to escape repeatedly like that. It's so unsafe for the dog and anyone who could encounter it. Those owners should probably talk to some animal rescue people because they always seem to the be most knowledgeable about keeping pets safe.

 

[Suglo]

God bless Jackie and her family. RIP Ringo. I hope Jackie is with him at the Rainbow Bridge. She definitely deserves that honor. [emoji179][emoji190]

 

[Etilema]

Presser, continued:

Map on slides of where vehicle was parked in street.

Witnesses had to slam on breaks to avoid hitting Jackie and the dog while she was chasing it. (-5:47 left to go)

Do not suspect foul play in this incident. Hope autposy gives additional information. Investigation ongoing. No sign of struggle at vehicle.

Questions from audience:

was it just an accident? Waiting on coroner's report.

Did she hit her head? Looking at a scenario where she hit her head. Not sure. Something for coroner.

Have you located where she may have entered the river? Evidence of slipped in river? Not that he is aware of.

What do you want to say to public? Bottom line lost a special person. A shame. She was trying to help a lost dog and lost her life doing so. A big loss.

No visible signs of trauma? No specifics. Wait for autopsy.

Why section of river is dangerous/hazardous? Understanding river Friday night was moving at swift pace. Made search difficult. Had to use extreme care. Lowhead dam, can't make assumptions. If someone had been in water, the current could have been a factor of the dam.
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So it sounds like they believe she had a head injury, perhaps hitting her head on the dam?

No mention of her going in the water or drowning.

They said they don't know whether she has a head injury or what. Apparently need to wait for autopsy results.


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[Hiandmighty]

Head injury also opens up more questions as to how she got a head injury near a sand bar. Maybe she had an aneurysm?


amypond, I agree. It got to be ridiculous.

 

[monkeypants]

So very tragic. A freak accident doing what her passion and love was... rescuing animals. I truly hope the local humane society or dog rescue groups pay tribute to her in some way. She truly deserves an honor.


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Ringos family should.

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[Coquette]

I quoted the presser nearly word for word. He said one aspect they are looking at is head injury. He said there is NO evidence she fell into the river that he knows of.

Then how did she end up on the sandbar?

 

[Etilema]

I quoted the presser nearly word for word. He said one aspect they are looking at is head injury. He said there is NO evidence she fell into the river that he knows of.

If she fell in the river and got churned around near that dam, she could have had a head injury from that, or other fatal injury. JMO


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[Hiandmighty]

if she fell in the river and got stuck in the churning of the dam, she or her body wouldn't have made it over to the sandbar. As they said, still missing pieces.

I think we who post here are so interested in human nature (at least I am), we want to figure out what happened, speculate on her mindset, and how she died. It's a mystery.

 

[Momma2cam]

Then how did she end up on the sandbar?

After reading about low head dams and watching the video posted earlier about the dangers of said dams, it seems to make the most sense that she drowned right there due to the current of the dam trapping her and then washed up on that sandbar. The officer stated "that could be a very dangerous area if someone was to be in the water" in reference to the low head dam. The only reason he made any comment about a head trauma is because a reporter asked specifically about that and he just noted it is something that is being looked at in the autopsy. Well, to be expected. I don't see that being the most likely scenario, at all. JMO.

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[Hiandmighty]

Then how did she end up on the sandbar?

She walked/ran there?

 

[Etilema]

I live near a dam of this type. There are warning signs around it depicting what could happen if you entered the water near it. I believe it would be possible to drown or become fatally injured, and to still be swept over the dam and onto a sandbar. MOO


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[Hiandmighty]

They gave the streets where she was seen running, posted in my presser comments. Can someone make a map with her route?

ETA: they just said, parked on riverside, seen chasing dog around 23rd and washington (this is maybe where the car had to slam on brakes to avoid hitting jackie and the dog).

Then she was seen again running on land along the river toward the dam.

EATA: the dog was found on land on the same side of the river (eastbank), down further.

So it is very possible she ran to the sandbar area. The dog kept running.