The woman who formerly ran a local dog rescue operation and faced criminal charges was found dead Friday after taking her own life, authorities said.

The criminal charges against Kim Strong now will be dismissed, Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara said. Strong was facing five to 15 years in prison.

Last year, the dog rescue operation at 809 Broad St. was seen in a viral video, where almost 120 dogs lived. Following that, the parent operation of Road to Home Rescue Support came to Utica from Long Island to adopt out the animals.

An investigation eventually began, and earlier this month she was arraigned in Utica City Court on felony grand larceny and scheme to defraud charges, as well as tax fraud charges.

McNamara previously said she was paying people under the table and not giving the proper training and living conditions for dogs that she was being paid to provide.

In a 2018 interview with the O-D, Strong said she provided at-home training for three years but realized some dogs needed more work than could be provided at home. This led to the founding of Lainey’s Army and K.A.S. (Keeping Animals Safe) on Oriskany Street in Utica.