UPDATE: Victim identified in suspected dog attack

CONWAY, Ky. (WTVQ) – A woman is charged with murder after beating a man and encouraging her pit bull to attack the victim, according to Kentucky State Police.

Investigators say when they were called to the backyard of a home on Pug Lane in the Conway community of Rockcastle County on Friday, they found 38-year old Melissa Wolke, of Mount Vernon, of top of a man punching him.  They say she was commanding her pit bull to attack the man at the same time.

That man has now been identified as 55-year-old Donald W. Abner of Richmond. The Rockcastle Coroner pronounced Abner dead at the scene.

KSP says Wolke had to be tazed to get her off the victim and that she refused to call off her dog. As a result, the dog had to be shot and killed, according to KSP.

An autopsy is scheduled Saturday to determine Abner’s manner and cause of death.

Wolke was arrested and charged with murder and other charges and taken to the Rockcastle County Jail, according to KSP.  The investigation continues, including looking into a motive for the attack, according to State Police.

Original story below:

CONWAY, Ky. (AP/WTVQ) – Kentucky State Police say a pit bull is thought to have fatally mauled a man.

Rockcastle County Coroner Marvin Owens told news outlets he was called to a home on Pug Lane in Conway on Friday for a reported fatal dog attack.

KSP says they encountered a very aggressive dog near the victim when they arrived.

Trooper Scottie Pennington said the victim had dog bites on his face and head. The dog was shot by a trooper. The dog belonged to a woman who was visiting the home.

An autopsy will be done on the victim and the dog. The name of the victim wasn’t immediately released.

Zelda Drew works for the postal service and knows this area.  She says there are two spots in Conway where she worries about aggressive dogs and Pug Lane is one of the spots.

“That’s scary. It makes you concerned for the neighbors or kids.  Yeah, it’s just scary,” Drew says.