NORFOLK --- Police want to know if a dog bite caused the death of a North Carolina woman in Norfolk.
49-year-old Theresa Ellerman was staying with friends in the 8200 block of Tabor Ct. when their Alaskan malamute bit her, according to police.
Officers arrived at the scene around 2:30am and discovered Ellerman was having a hard time breathing.
She was taken to DePaul Medical Center where she died about an hour later.
Police would not release how many times Ellerman was bitten and where, but investigators say she was not mauled.
Neighbors say the dog was not usually violent.
"I've never had any problems," said Carolyn Ayers. "I have a golden retriever and I walk all up and down here and have never had any problems with any of them."
The Alaskan malamute is being quarantined while officers investigate.
The Medical Examiner is scheduled to do an autopsy Monday to determine the victim's cause of death.
Ellerman was from Jacksonville, NC.
