Pit Bull Kills Pregnant Owner in California Home

Husband discovered grisly scene of bloody dog hovering over wife.

ByABC News
August 12, 2011, 11:11 AM

Aug. 12, 2011 — -- A pit bull attacked and killed his pregnant owner in a Pacifica, Calif., home.

Darla Napora, 32, was attacked by her unneutered, 2-year-old male pit bull Thursday. Her husband, Greg Napora, found her bloody body in the couple's living room with the pit bull, named Gunner, hovering over her.

"When we arrived, what we found was the victim lying in her front room. She was non-responsive, not breathing and suffering major trauma to her upper body," said Pacifica Police Capt. David Bertini.

Greg Napora told police that he had corralled the dog in a back room. The back room led into the backyard and the brindled pit bull managed to escape into the backyard.

The dog began to approach the police and first responders.

Pit Bull That Killed Pregnant Mom Shot By Cops

"He was just covered in blood," Bertini said. "There were also bystanders in the area. We were going to take no chances with that dog."

Police shot and killed the dog.

An autopsy is underway to determine how exactly Darla Napora died.

"We can't say whether she bled to death or she may have had a heart attack, we don't know," said Bertini.

A necropsy is being performed on the dog to determine if there's anything physically or medically wrong with the animal that would have caused the attack.

Another pit bull was present at the couple's home. Police said it didn't appear that the younger female pitbull was involved in the attack.

As a precaution, animal control took the dog. It's unclear at this time if that pitbull will be returned to the Napora family.

When reached by phone, Darla Napora's family was too overcome by grief to speak.

Police would not comment on how far along Darla Napora was in her pregnancy. The Oakland Tribune reported that she was nearly six months along.

Neighbors told ABC News affiliate KGO that the dogs appeared normal. The Napora's had a "Beware of the Dog" sign on their home.