A Kentucky woman has been charged with murder after allegedly commanding a pitbull to attack a neighbor who died after a dog mauled him.

Melissa Wolke allegedly jumped up and down on the man and assaulted him before giving commands for a large dog to attack.

Donald Abner, 55, died at the scene in Conway on Friday morning after officers arrived and found the animal behaving aggressively, Kentucky State Police said.

Wolke told officers at the scene that she was 'going ''redneck'' on the male subject and she released her pit bull on the male', a police report stated.

Officers said they saw the 38-year-old woman on top of the victim on the floor, punching him in the face as the pitbull mauled him.

Melissa Wolke was arrested and charged with murder after her neighbor died in a dog attack

The home in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, where Donald Abner, 55, was killed by a pitbull

A man who called authorities said he heard Wolke give the pitbull, which was named Denali, 'commands to attack', according to the report.

The dog was near the victim and behaving aggressively when a responding trooper arrived, and he couldn't help the victim, according to the report.

The officer 'had no option but to eliminate the dog' by opening fire and Tasering Wolke.

She was was said to be 'belligerent and aggressive' at the scene, police wrote in their report.

It added: 'She appeared to have blood on her hands and feet, and had a large clump of hair in her hands that was consistent with the victim's hair.'

Trooper Scottie Pennington of the Kentucky State Police told Lex18: 'Troopers and deputies advised the lady to halt and quit attacking the male subject who was on the ground.

'She refused and also she was giving commands to the pitbull to attack the victim.

'In the interest of their safety and everyone in the neighborhood, they put the animal down.'

Police said officers arrived at the scene in Conway, Kentucky, and found Melissa Wolke attacking her neighbor Donald Abner

According to Pennington, the victim had dog bites on his face and head, but it has yet to be ascertained if he was killed by wounds.

He added that early inquiries indicated the pair were actually friends before the altercation broke out.

Residents across the street for where the attack took place said in the past few weeks they had heard several gunshots in the area.

Jerry Merritt told WKYT: 'At night time, I've been hearing several gunshots going up and down this road over here. I don't know what they're shooting at or for the fun of it or what.'

Wolke was arrested and taken to the Rockcastle County Jail, charged with murder as well as other charges.

The investigation continues, including looking into a motive for the attack, according to Kentucky State Police.

An autopsy is scheduled on Saturday to determine Abner's cause of death.