When Kathryn Janis, 40, of Midtown, Georgia, didn’t come home from walking the dog one morning in July, her partner Emma Clark became concerned.
Janice often brings her dog, a 3-year-old pit bull named Bowie, to nearby Piedmont Park, which has a dog park. According to her father, Terrell Clarke, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Clarke used a cell phone tracking app to locate Janice.
When Clark finds her in the park, it’s clear that Janice and Bowie have been killed in the same brutal way. With the woman and her dog about 100 feet apart, Janice was stabbed multiple times.
“It’s sad,” Clark said, according to a GoFundMe. “He is the smartest, kindest, humblest, and nicest person I have ever met.”
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The woman was stabbed to death 50 times, after authorities found a message of illness in her body
“He’s the sweetest most loyal companion,” Clark said of Bowie. “My heart is so broken, my world will never be the same. Thank you to everyone who reached out. It’s truly appreciated.”
Clark believes that Bowie may have died trying to save Janice, as he was a loyal dog and had a close relationship with Janice.
The incident shocked locals and loved ones, and while Atlanta police and the FBI investigated, no suspects were identified.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms said the incident did not appear to be part of a hate crime or serial killing, but was different.
“It doesn’t explain anything we’ve seen,” he said.
An autopsy was performed on July 30, and the results were released to the public on Friday, highlighting new, shocking details in the case.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s report revealed that Janice had been stabbed more than 50 times, with at least 15 cuts to the head. The word “FAT” was also engraved on the skin of his chest.
“It is my opinion that Katherine Janis died from blunt force trauma to her face, neck and body which resulted in injuries to major blood vessels and internal organs,” Drs. Karen E. Sullivan. “The manner of death of Ms. Janis has been classified as a homicide.”
The wording on Janice’s chest is disturbing, and even more confusing because she is described as 5 feet, 5 inches and 155 pounds, which puts her in the normal body weight range.
“This report is heartbreaking to read and learn the true nature of what Katie endured in her final moments on this earth,” Terrell Clark wrote in a statement, according to the New York Post.
“Whoever is responsible is deeply disturbed and everyone’s safety is at risk. Please stay alert and be aware of your surroundings because we don’t hate any family that goes through this nightmare.”
GoFundMe was used to raise funds to plant two benches and a tree in Piedmont Park near the dog park to remember Janice and Bowie.
This article originally appeared on The Western…