Woman was killed by dogs, autopsy finds

The Medical Examiner's Office has ruled that a North Philadelphia woman found dead with her five pit bulls was killed by one or more of the dogs, police said Thursday.

Carmen Ramos, 50, was found dead in her home in the 400 block of West Carey Street by her husband, Jose Alvarez, Tuesday evening with the dogs. Alvarez, who had come home from work, told police the dogs killed her, but police conducted a homicide investigation to make sure she was not killed by some other means.

Ramos was pronounced dead at the scene with severe injuries to her head and face. The dogs were removed from the house by animal-control officers.

The dogs had recently escaped from the house and attacked two neighborhood residents. The Pennsylvania SPCA reportedly took the dogs away, but then returned them shortly before Ramos' death. A PSPCA official said the case was under investigation. - Robert Moran