Officials say there's a chance wolf dog hybrids ate part of woma - Tri-State News, Weather & Sports

Ohio County authorities believe a group of wolfdogs ate the body of a missing Fordsville woman.

The Ohio County Sheriff's Department says they believe Patricia Ritz, who is thought to be around 67-years-old, lived on the property with more than 50 wolfdogs.

Neighbors called authorities on Saturday to say she hadn't been seen for about a week.

It's a scene Ohio County officials say they've never seen before.

Saturday morning, the Sheriff got a call from one of Ritz's neighbors.

"Stating that she hadn't been feeling well and they hadn't seen her for about a week and a half, to two weeks or so," said Sheriff David Thompson.

They went to Ritz's residence on Easton Road for a welfare check and found a human skull, and human jawbone.

Both were presumed to be Ritz's.

More than 50 hybrid wolf-dogs of all ages found roaming the property were thought to be her pets.

"I think it was just one lady that really wanted to save them all," said Tracey Ward. "When you don't spay and neuter, they're going to breed. It's not going to be just one or two puppies, it's going to be seven, nine, twelve."

Some dogs were in cages. Many running free.

Most of them malnourished and a few were dead.

Animal Control came to try and round up the dogs, hopeful to save many of them.

An official with the Ohio County Sheriff's Department believe there's a chance some of the wolfdogs may have eaten part of Ritz's body sometime after she died.

Officials have no been able to recover any other remains.

It seemed many of the animals haven't had much access to food or water.

The Ohio County Coroner is working to officially identify the remains.

Animal Control is still working to recover most of the wolfdogs to get them the vet care they need.

They're looking for volunteers in hopes of getting most of the dogs to an animal sanctuary.

Copyright 2013 WFIE. All rights reserved.