Body found surrounded by dogs near IUPUI campus

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Police say a woman's body was found along the trail near Lansing and New York Street. Detectives are on scene.

A person riding a bicycle found a body in the White River State Park and called 911 around 7:30 p.m. When officers arrived on scene, they found the body of a black woman surrounded by two dogs. Police say they had trouble beginning the investigation initially because it seemed as if the dogs were protecting her.

The dogs were taken by Animal Control. It was unclear whether they had belonged to the woman, Indiana State Police said.

The only identifying information available late Wednesday was that the woman was black. An autopsy was set Thursday, and investigators were hoping to learn more from that, including the cause of death.

"We're not ruling out anything and treating it as a crime scene. It is a death investigation," ISP Sgt. Richard Myers said.

Officials said there was no threat to IUPUI students at this time.