The autopsy of a 22-year-old woman found dead in Virginia has officially confirmed that she was fatally mauled by her two pit bulls after the dogs were found chewing on her rib cage.
Bethany Lynn Stephens was found dead in a wooded area near her father’s home in Goochland, about 35 miles from Richmond, in a gruesome scene back in December.
Police said last year that they believed Stephens had been mauled to death by the dogs – Tonka and Pac-Man – when officers came across the them eating parts of her body.
They revealed the grisly circumstances surrounding her death after Stephens’ friends and family refused to believe her dogs could have killed her.
Bethany Lynn Stephens, 22, was horrifically mauled to death by her two pit bulls in a wooded area in Goochland, Virginia back in December
Those close to Stephens initially suggested she could have been murdered or attacked by a large animal like a bear or coyote.
The Goochland Sheriff’s Office revealed on Tuesday they had closed the investigation into Stephens’ death in light of the autopsy results.
The state medical examiner ruled that Stephens did in fact die from ‘trauma due to mauling by animals.’
Sheriff Jim Agnew released a seven-page report on the investigation, which included the examiner’s ruling, that said defensive wounds were found on the victim’s hands and arms from ‘trying to keep the dogs away from her’.
The gruesome report also cites evidence of animals chewing on her face, torso and arms after she died.
No drugs or alcohol were found in her system and there was no evidence of a gunshot, strangulation or any other kind of attack, according to the autopsy report.
Police said last year that they believed Stephens had been mauled to death by her two pit bulls – Tonka and Pac-Man – when officers came across the dogs eating parts of her body
Police revealed the grisly circumstances surrounding her death after Stephens’ friends and family refused to believe her dogs could have killed her
Most of the grisly details had already been released by officers soon after Stephens’ body was found in an effort to put an end to the murder theories being raised in relation to her death.
Police believe the animals could have been stressed and underfed in the lead up after Stephens had left them in the care of her father John (pictured above)
Police had earlier revealed that the dogs, who had lived inside with Stephens, had been a ‘little bit neglected towards the end’ after she left the animals with her father.
Stephens would see the dogs about five times a week at her father’s home when she would take them out for walks.
The dogs had been moved outside to a kennel and had become increasingly isolated in the lead up to Stephens’ death.
Officers said the animals could have been stressed and underfed.
‘The medical examiner’s report substantiated what we observed,’ Sheriff Agnew told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
‘I hope that the family can get some peace now.
‘There are going to be those who aren’t going to believe and pick apart all the things that we’ve done, and that’s their prerogative, but unless somebody steps forward with some really strong evidence, we’ve closed this.’
Police captured the two dogs at the crime scene and they were euthanized with the family’s consent soon after.
The Goochland Sheriff’s Office revealed on Tuesday they had closed the investigation into Stephens’ death in light of the autopsy results