Woman found dead in her home was reportedly killed by her own dogs
A woman found dead inside her Ohio home was mauled to death by her own dogs, authorities said.
Mary Matthews, 49, was found unresponsive by her husband, Mark Matthews, and his son on Friday. Investigators found blood throughout the house and two "large but thin" Great Danes outside on an enclosed deck.
"We got some preliminary results back from the coroner's office, and the cause of death is being attributed to the dog attack," Clearcreek Township police Chief John Terrill told WLWT.
The police report paints a bloody picture. Mary Matthews was found with a chunk of flesh missing from her left ankle and numerous cuts and puncture marks on her leg.
Authorities believe since the woman was able to get the dogs outside, she wasn't aware of the extent of her injuries and "felt she could handle things on her own."
"Due to this history, it is felt that [Mary Matthews] may not have been in a clear-minded state to judge the severity of her situation and thus failed to call for help," the police report said.
The couple rescued both dogs two years ago. One of the Great Danes recently became vicious and bit Mark Matthews on the arm.
"I wanted to get rid of him, but she wouldn't," her husband told WLWT. "She loves animals."
Mark Matthews told the outlet that this tragedy should be viewed as a warning to remove potentially dangerous dogs from your home.
"I wouldn't take the chance at all because they're a ticking time bomb," he added
