Investigators called it a “terribly tragic accident” in a field beside a mobile home park.
WINTER HAVEN, FL — A Winter Haven woman who regularly visited and fed two horses in a nearby field died after she was found with injuries consistent with being trampled, police said. Officers responded just before 2 p.m. Thu., Feb. 5, and found the woman in a pasture beside a mobile home park.
Authorities said an autopsy found blunt-force trauma and early findings suggested a large animal, such as a horse, caused the fatal injuries. Investigators said they do not suspect foul play and described the death as an accident. The woman’s name was not released, and police said they notified her next of kin as the inquiry continued.
Police said a 911 caller reported a person lying in the middle of a field next to the Lucerne Lakeside Mobile Home Park on Lucerne Park Road. When officers arrived, they saw a body in the pasture with two horses nearby, according to a statement from the Winter Haven Police Department. Officers climbed over a fence to reach the woman, who was unresponsive. Police began life-saving measures until Winter Haven Fire and Polk County emergency crews arrived, officials said. The woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Winter Haven Police Chief Vance Monroe said the woman was well known for spending time with the horses and described the death as a heartbreaking accident.
Investigators said the woman had visible injuries to her face and torso when she was found. An autopsy and initial findings showed she died from blunt-force trauma, with injuries consistent with being trampled by a large animal such as a horse, police said. Officers spoke with people in the area who told them the woman often fed the two horses and was a familiar presence near the pasture, according to investigators. Monroe said in a statement that the woman “cared so much to interact and feed these horses,” adding that the department’s “hearts go out to the family and friends” of the victim. Police said the horses’ owner responded to the scene and has been cooperating with investigators.
The death drew attention in a part of Winter Haven where homes and open lots sit close together and residents often know one another’s daily routines. Police did not describe how the woman came to be inside the fenced field, and they did not say whether anyone witnessed the moments leading up to the injuries. Investigators also did not release details about the horses beyond noting that two were near the woman when officers arrived. Authorities have not said whether the animals were examined by a veterinarian or whether any prior incidents involving the horses had been reported. Police said they learned about the woman’s habit of feeding the animals through interviews with nearby residents, and they emphasized that there were no early signs pointing to a criminal act.
Monroe said the department was treating the case as a death investigation while awaiting additional findings. Police did not announce any arrests or charges, and investigators said they do not believe foul play was involved. The woman’s identity was being withheld as officials worked with her family, police said. Investigators also have not said whether the horses will be moved, quarantined, or otherwise restricted, and they did not announce any action by animal control authorities. Police said their next steps included finishing interviews, reviewing what led the woman into the field, and completing reports tied to the autopsy and scene findings. Officials said they expect the investigation to remain open until all medical and investigative information is finalized.
Neighbors who spoke with investigators described the woman as someone who regularly approached the pasture to feed the horses, police said, suggesting she had formed a routine around the animals. In his statement, Monroe said the woman was “beloved” and that the department would be praying for those close to her. The field where she was found sits beside the Lucerne Lakeside Mobile Home Park, and police said officers had to climb a fence to reach her in the pasture. Emergency crews worked at the scene before she was transported to the hospital, and investigators later returned to speak with residents and the horses’ owner, according to police. Authorities did not release the woman’s age, but described her as elderly.
Police said on Feb. 6 that the death appeared accidental and that the horses’ owner was cooperating. Officials said the case would remain under review as medical findings are finalized and the department completes its investigation.
Author note: Last updated February 9, 2026.