Dec. 18--A 57-year-old woman was found dead inside her home in the Northern California town of Gridley this week, possibly killed by her two dogs, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities said Maria Torres may have been killed as she tried to stop her pit bulls from fighting.
Torres was found dead inside her home Wednesday by deputies conducting a welfare check after the woman failed to show up to work that same day. The deputies also found two pit bulls inside the house.
"The dogs had injuries consistent with being involved in a fight with one another," said Butte County sheriff's spokeswoman Miranda Bowersox.
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She said investigators are also looking into whether the woman may have died of a natural cause.
"The injuries to her body perhaps happened after death," Bowersox said.
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She said investigators don't believe foul play was involved, but have not ruled it out either.
"Right now they're exploring all theories," she said.
