Report: North Carolina teacher out for walk could have been killed by wolf, coyote, dog

PANTEGO, Beaufort County — An elderly teacher, who was attacked by an unknown animal, has died, school officials confirm.

77-year-old Brenda Hamilton succumbed to her injuries at Vidant Medical Center Monday morning, Headmistress Marcy Morgan of Pungo Christian Academy said.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office said they received a 911 call at 5:47 a.m. in reference an animal attack on Indian Run Road in Pantego. Beaufort County EMS and paramedics arrived to find Hamilton suffering from severe injuries as a result of the attack.

Investigators from the sheriff's office along with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Officers and Biologist responded to the scene to investigate what kind of animal attacked Hamilton. A preliminary DNA test facilitated by NC Wildlife Biologist eliminated any wild animals indigenous to the area but those findings proved incorrect Monday afternoon.

Canine DNA was found on Hamilton’s clothing. However, the testing does not differentiate between wild canines, such as wolf or coyote indigenous to the area, and domestic canines that may live in the area.

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Investigators are collecting DNA from domestic canines in the area for further testing.