SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A death investigation is underway in Southwest Miami-Dade, as police said 29-year-old Alexander Andres Torres was fatally mauled by his own dog. A family friend, concerned after not hearing from Torres since Sunday, made a devastating discovery in the garage.
On Tuesday night, yellow tape surrounded the home along Southwest 104th Terrace and 123rd Court where the man was killed, along with members of the Miami-Dade Police Department and animal service vans.
“A family friend of the deceased victim had not heard from this person since around Sunday,” said MDPD Det. Andre Martin. “That person then came to the residence to check on their friend where they found them deceased in the garage of the home. emergency services were called, officers arrived and they observed the victim deceased in the garage from what appeared to be numerous dog bites.”
Police described a bloody incident in the home where loud barking was heard from a block away. Police are unsure how long Torres had been there in his garage.
“The investigation at this point, is starting to look like that may have been the cause of death,” said Det. Martin. “The victim was suffering from numerous dog bites.”
The victim’s body was transported to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department, where the official cause of death will be determined.
The fatal mauling left the community in shock. Neighbors expressed their sorrow for the loss of a person described as a very good soul by those who knew him and his family.
“I’m very upset about that. He’s a very good person, his father, his mother, everyone,” said one woman.
On Wednesday, friends and family grieved the loss of Torres. He was described as a great young man who faced medical challenges that affected his mobility, but lived a normal, quiet life.
A family member of Torres said he has owned the dog for several years. Neighbors described the dog as a medium-sized mix breed that occasionally got out but had never harmed anyone before.
“It was a big dog…but I never saw any issues with the dog,” said one neighbor.
Miami-Dade Animal Services personnel removed the dog from the residence; the canine’s fate remains unknown.
Authorities are diligently working to gather details and ascertain the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
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