A University librarian and her husband were found dead by a roadside in Oglethorpe County Saturday, and authorities said Monday they were victims of a brutal dog attack.

Sherry L. Schweder, 65, and Lothar Karl Schweder, 77, were discovered off Georgia Highway 77 near Lexington. Sherry Schweder worked in the main library, while Lothar Schweder taught German at the University.

After an autopsy was completed Monday morning, Oglethorpe County Coroner James Mathews told The Red & Black a dog attack was to blame.

“It was the results of a brutal dog attack,” Mathews said. “Without being graphic there were bites from head to toe.”

Although the bodies weren’t at first initially identified, Mathews knew who the couple were.

“I was there and was a part of the investigative work, too,” he said. “I live two miles down the road. It’s very tough being coroner, especially when you get into your own neighborhood. It’s very difficult – 10 years ago I had to pronounce my own father, who died of natural causes.”

Two Jehovah’s Witnesses discovered the bodies outside along the couple’s dirt road.

“There are a lot of weird circumstances with this one,” he said. “I’ve been coroner for 28 years, and this is one of the weirdest cases I’ve investigated.”

Check The Red & Black for more details as they become available.

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