TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – A 50-year-old man and his 3-month-old granddaughter were found dead Wednesday afternoon after being attacked by the family’s seven dogs inside their Tullahoma residence, police confirmed.
Tullahoma Police and Coffee County deputies responded to a 911 call at a home on Ridgeville Road just after 3 p.m. on December 4, 2025. Upon arrival, officers discovered James Smith, 50, deceased in the living room. In an adjacent area, multiple dogs were actively mauling the infant girl, who was also pronounced dead at the scene.
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Officers were forced to fatally shoot several of the animals in order to safely approach the victims and secure the property. The remaining dogs were taken into custody by Coffee County Animal Control.
Authorities have not yet determined whether the victims were killed by the dog attack or if an underlying medical emergency contributed to their deaths prior to the mauling. Autopsies are pending with the Davidson County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Neighbors told investigators the family owned seven mixed-breed dogs and that the animals had previously killed other pets in the area, though they had never shown aggression toward people.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy for this family and our community,” Tullahoma Police Chief Jason Williams said in a statement. “Our detectives are working around the clock to establish exactly what occurred inside that home.”
The names of the infant and other family members are being withheld at this time. The investigation remains active.