- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
- Click here to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
- Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)
(CNN) - A woman in Ohio who was found dead at home was probably killed by her own dogs, police say.
Mary Matthews, 49, was found Friday at her home in Clearcreek Township, Ohio, about 65 miles northeast of Cincinnati, local police told WLWT, a CNN affiliate.
It has been determined that the cause of death was a "dog attack," Clearcreek Township Police Chief John Terrill told WLWT. Matthews suffered multiple injuries, according to an incident report reviewed by the affiliate.
Investigators found two "large but thin" Grenadians on a closed house deck and blood was present throughout the house, according to WLWT.
Matthews' husband, Mark Matthews, found that his wife was not responding at home on Friday and called the authorities. He had been in the county jail since Wednesday and returned home that day, authorities told the member. There was no information on when the attack could have occurred.
Mark Matthews said the family rescued the dogs about two years ago, but one had become violent and bit his arm, WLWT reported.
"I wanted to get rid of him, but she didn't," Mark Matthews told the affiliate. "She loves animals".
LOOK : Conan, the hero dog, gives a press conference on 'Saturday Night Live'
Authorities believe the dogs attacked the woman and she was able to take them out before succumbing to her injuries. Police believe that he may not have realized the seriousness of his injuries and that there is evidence that he had changed clothes and tried to clean the blood with towels, the affiliate said.
Police said the victim suffered from chronic alcoholism and took several prescription medications, which may have affected her ability to respond to the situation properly, according to WLWT. The incident report reviewed by the CNN affiliate says investigators found waste in the home, including beer cans and medicine bottles.
"Because of this story, it is believed that (Mary Matthews) may not have been in a clear state of mind to judge the seriousness of her situation and, therefore, did not ask for help," the police report said.
WLWT reported that the dogs were slaughtered.
Danielle Hackett of CNN contributed to this report.