Woman Mauled To Death By Own Pit Bull Dogs In Goochland: Police

GOOCHLAND, VA — A young woman from Glen Allen apparently was mauled to death by her own pit bull dogs Thursday in the 2200 block of Manakin Road, according to the Goochland County Sheriff's Office. Bethany Lynn Stephens was found dead by police shortly before 8:30 p.m.

"It was an absolutely grisly mauling," Goochland sheriff James Agnew told the Richmond Times-Dipsatch Friday afternoon."In my nearly 40 years in law enforcement, I've never seen anything quite like it, (and) I hope I never see anything like it again."

The medical examiner's office said Stephens had defensive wounds on her hands, and added that that means she was alive when she was attacked by the two dogs. The first traumatic attack was to her throat and face, after which she is believed to have fallen to the ground and then being mauled to death.

The sheriff said Stephens was petite, 5-1 and 125 pounds. He said the dogs, on the other hand, each weighed between 100-200 pounds. WRIC television station spoke to one of Stephens' friends who was skeptical her dogs were responsible.

"I wasn't able to see the body, so I can't tell you what happened," Barbara Norris said. "I can't tell you if it was a blunt force or if it was a mauling, but I know those dogs didn't do it."

Agnew said Stephens grew up in Goochland County and was there to visit her father. He said she frequently walked the dogs in the wooded area where she was found. The sheriff's office said it's working to have the dogs euthanized.

Image via Pixabay