UPDATED at 4:30 p.m. with information about the victim.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY • A man who advocated for others in the region who have disabilities was attacked and killed by one of his own pit bulls in St. Louis County, authorities said.

St. Louis County police were called to the 2200 block of Redman Avenue near Spanish Lake about 10:30 a.m. Monday, authorities said. Police say Adonis Reddick, 45, was found dead and had bite marks on his body.

On Tuesday, authorities said “penetrating and perforating wounds to the victim’s neck” had caused his death.

Two of the man’s relatives who had not seen or heard from Reddick since Saturday went to his home to check on him and found him dead, said Vera Culley, a spokeswoman for the St. Louis County Police Department.

Two pit bulls, one of which was acting aggressively, were in the home, according to police. Authorities believe that the aggressive dog bit the victim.

Culley said investigators aren’t sure how long Reddick had been dead.