I met a young lady here in the mountains of southern Appalachia who told of having a whole litter of Jack Russell Terriers wiped out in minutes by several coyotes in her backyard during broad daylight. When her husband called the state (NC) wildlife people to ask if he could get a trap for them and have them relocated he was told "SHOOT THEM!" They are such a problem here and have no natural enemies. They are just about the only creatures here that have absolutely no protection from the state. Even timber rattlers are protected. I know that there is a bounty on them in SD. They are so adaptable they are a menace in big cities like Los Angeles. That's what happens when a preditor has no natural enemies. They killed off the last big cats and wolves here years ago.
I can't imagine the pain experienced by your aunt and uncle.