CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA — An 86-year-old woman was mauled to death by two pit bulls while visiting a family home on Monday.

Bessie Flowers was visiting her daughter’s house on the south side of Charlotte when the attack occurred, police said.

Officials said Flowers suffered “fatal dog big injuries” and was pronounced dead at the scene. Sources told WBTV that she suffered injuries to the neck and lost a substantial amount of blood.

“The female is not a stranger or third party just walking down the street. This actually occurred at a family home,” Captain Todd Lontz said. “The dogs that are involved in this are actually family dogs.”

According to WBTV, Flowers was heading back into the house from the back porch when she either slipped or tripped onto a dog bed. The family’s dogs, two pit bulls, went over to Flowers and initially started playing with her while she was down. A police source told WBTV the dogs became more aggressive, and that the aggression escalated.

The dogs bit Flowers on the neck and the head.

Flowers’ daughter was eventually able to separate the dogs and get them off her mother. The daughter then called 911. Police discovered Flowers on the living room floor.

“After they arrived on scene, they located a female deceased, possibly resulting from the dog bites,” said Capt. Lontz.

Police said two “American Pit Bull Terriers” were involved. They said both dogs were properly licensed and vaccinated. The dogs were taken by Animal Care and Control for a 10-day quarantine. They will also be held during the investigation.