Two pit bulls were found dead in an SUV in St. Paul, and the dogs' "crying, wailing" owner said the killer is a jealous woman, authorities said.

The dogs were located about 7 p.m. Monday in the vehicle at Edgerton Street and Minnehaha Avenue on the East Side, said Sgt. Paul Paulos.

Police are awaiting word from the city's Animal Control personnel about how the dogs died. Paulos said that determination could "be a while."

The woman told police "her two female pit bull dogs were killed by a jealous female," according to the police incident report.

"The female complainant was extremely distraught, crying, wailing out loud and was truly hysterical," the report continued.

Police have identified the suspect as a 26-year-old woman from St. Paul. She has not been arrested or charged.

Paulos said that a case has not been presented to the county attorney's office for consideration of criminal charges because the investigation is ongoing.

"We continue to follow the leads that were presented to us," he said.

Paulos said police are investigating the relationship between the female suspect, the female victim and a man named in the police report. Court records show that the suspect and man were once linked in a domestic assault case that was ultimately dismissed.

Star Tribune staff writer Chao Xiong contributed to this report. Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482