On Friday, an Alabama Department of Public Health employee was reportedly mauled to death by a pack of dogs while investigating a dog attack that left a woman hospitalized in serious condition.

Franklin County police discovered the body of Jacqueline Beard, 58, (not pictured) in Red Bay. Beard, a longtime environmental specialist for the state agency, was investigating a dog attack that occurred earlier in the week when she was killed, according to AL.com.

Beard was looking into the attack — which involved a woman being mauled as she walked — as the health department investigates potential rabies risk via animal bites. Police officers who responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle not only discovered Beard’s body but they observed residents being attacked by the same dogs that mauled Beard and the woman who was left seriously injured, AL.com reported.

Franklin County police said they believe Beard was killed as she tried to talk to the dogs’ owner, Brandy Dowdy, 39. She has since been charged with manslaughter and dangerous dog law violations.

Seven dogs were reportedly involved in the deadly attack. Some of them were immediately euthanized, according to police.

Dowdy remains jailed without bail.

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[Featured image: Brandy Dowdy/Franklin County Sheriff’s Office]