A Milam County jury ruled Thursday a dog owner was not guilty for criminally negligent homicide in a 2005 mauling.
Jose Hernandez's six dogs left 76-year-old Lillian Stiles unrecognizable to her husband.
The jury began deliberating around 1:30 p.m., and some of the last words were from prosecutor Carrie Spears, who said Hernandez ought to have known that his dogs, some weighing 100 pounds, could pose a threat to people.
Defense attorney Dan Estrada said the dogs had not attacked before, and there was no reason to think they would.
Stiles was working in her yard when the dogs, six pit bull-Rottweiler mixes, attacked her, mauling her to death.
Hernandez said the dogs never threatened his visitors and didn't think they could get out of his yard. He said he didn't know what type of dogs they were and was unaware of possible aggressive behavior.
Stiles' family said his testimony is what they waited months to hear.
"It made my family feel good that he did feel remorse the night my mama died," said Marilyn Shoemaker, Stiles' daughter. "I don't feel he was forthright in his testimony, and that bothered me. But that's something he's got to live with."
Hernandez said he can't speak English. Stiles' family members said they know him, and that's not true.
The Stiles family said it was happy for its day in court. Even though the dogs that mauled Stiles are dead, the family said it has been waiting to see Hernandez face to face.
"We're here for a lot of people in Texas," said Marilyn Shoemaker, Stiles' daughter. "Victims of dog bites, there are a lot of people who don't get their day in court."
Prosecutors said Stiles suffered a horrific death. Her scalp was torn, and her face chewed apart.
The victim's family said it's a hard lesson to learn, but they hope everybody pays attention to the damage that can be done.
The family has lobbied for Lillian's Law, which would hold pet owners accountable when death or serious injury occurs from an animal.
"If you have a dangerous dog of any type, be responsible," said Nikki Williams, Stiles' granddaughter. "Be a responsible dog owner. Don't let that dog run loose and take someone else's life."