News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The gruesome death of Bethany Lynn Stephens who was found mauled to death and being eaten by her two pit bulls has shocked the world.

Police in the US state of Virginia discovered the remains of the tragic 22-year-old after she failed to return from a walk with her dogs Tonka and Pac Man in woodland.

Sheriff James Agnew said he had no doubt she had been killed by the pets.

But a day later, he was forced to respond to statements from a friend and small but vocal group of campaigners who refused to believe the pit bulls were responsible.

Sheriff Agnew told reporters he and several other officers had personally witnessed the dogs "eating the ribcage of the body."

He also revealed that while Bethany may have previously been close with the dogs, they had recently been living outside in a cage at her father's home.

(Image: Twitter/@lfrenchnews)

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Nevertheless, the case sparked a fierce debate about whether dogs, especially certain breeds such as pit bulls, carry out deadly attacks as a result of 'nature or nurture'.

MirrorOnline spoke to Ron Berman, a Canine Behavioural Consultant and Forensic Dog Bite Expert to get answers.

He is one of the most experienced dog attack experts in the United States, having dealt with almost 900 cases during 24 years appearing in court.

"I'm surprised that people are shocked [by Bethany's case]," he said.

"I think people are forgetting, dogs are animals first, and dogs are by nature predators, even though they may not have killed anything to eat in their lives.

"It's part of their nature. It's part of our nature - humans are predators.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

"The dogs were eating her - but what created this?

"It's not common for dogs to kill and eat their owners, it happens, but it's not typical - so why did it happen?"

Having examined the facts released by police so far, Ron has come up with a possible scenario of what might have led to Tonka and Pac Man killing Bethany.

Here are six questions that could be asked during the investigation:

1. Was there a lack of human contact?

"They had very little human contact- now that will change a dog, number one," said Ron.

"Lack of human contact makes you semi-wild, you're now longer a house dog and part of the family.

"Now they're outside in a cage - it's a very different psychology."

2. Were they a cross breed?

"They talked about the dogs being 100lbs (45kg) each - not many pit bulls that I've ever seen are 100lbs.

"[the dog is] probably not a pure pit bull," said Ron.

"There could be some different breeding which is not being looked at."

(Image: Facebook)

"These dogs are living in a cage, she wasn't seeing them as often as she did.

"Their bond with her may be diminished."

3. Were they being fed well?

"It's also possible that they're not being fed well...Nobody has talked much about the dog's state, whether they were very thin...

"Usually when dogs eat a person after the person is dead, that's because they're hungry.

"I'm assuming they had a level of hunger. Maybe they hadn't eaten for a day..."

4. Were they on a leash?

"Say they're out in the woods - now I don't know if she had them on leashes or not...

"Say they're walking and these are two dogs that have aggressive temperaments - pit bulls, even the nicest pit bulls will have some potential for aggression, because that was what this breed was bred for.

"I'm not knocking them, there are wonderful pit bulls.

"But they're sturdy dogs and one of the things they often have is a very high 'prey drive'.

"It could also have a high pain tolerance. "

(Image: Facebook)

5. Did the dogs chase another animal?

"Now say she's in the woods and they see another animal and they wanna go after it and they get really aggressive.

"They're chasing that animal and maybe they even catch it... and she tries to interrupt them, to stop it.

"Theres a thing called 'redirective aggression'.

"As an example, you're fighting with someone, I try to to break up the fight and you turn on me and start beating me up.

"Now this is what may have happened."

6. Was Bethany a 'commanding' owner?

"Also she may have not been a very strong owner who commanded the dogs.

"To be a good owner of dogs like that you need to be a leader.

"A lot of dog owners are not leaders, the dogs become leaders.

"One dog attacks her, and then when you have a pack, meaning two dogs or more, you have a thing called 'facilitation'."

(Image: Facebook)

"That's like, if you're with a friend and they act aggressively, you may feel more comfortable acting aggressively even if you normally wouldn't because they're doing it. You're not alone.

"It's the heat of the moment and the confidence from having a partner.

"In humans it's called 'militant enthusiasm'."

'Dogs can be formidable adversaries'

Ron believes the case is a stark reminder that all dog owners should be as knowledgeable as they can about their pet and its potential behaviour.

"We love our dogs," he said.

"Dogs are no longer animals you tie up in the backyard, or that sleep in the barn... for most people, their dog is like a member of their family and I think we idealise our dogs way too much.

"So many cases that I investigate, people are bitten because in their mind, 'dogs don't bite'.

"So they do things that they would never do with a person."

"I wouldn't go up to you, especially if I don't know you, and stick my face right in your face or try to hug you, around your neck, or kiss you on the head...

"You wouldn't think of doing that with another person.

"Going up to a stranger and moving too close to their face or grabbing them - that's an aggressive act.

"And yet we do that with dogs all the time and just expect that they're just going to kiss us back."

There are an estimated 4.5million reported dog bites in the United States every year - but it's believed there are two or three times as many go unreported.

Ron revealed he is currently working on the case of a Belgian Malinois that killed a man and attacked the woman talking to him.

The dog responsible was only around 70lbs (30kg) in size.

"The man is much bigger," said Ron.

"But when they are really aggressive and healthy they can do a great deal of damage, they are so fast, they have four feet on the ground, a low centre of gravity...physically they are so beyond a human being that if they want to attack you... there's not much you can do about it.

"They are formidable adversaries when they are in that state."

'There is no guarantee with any dog'

And on one point Ron is absolutely clear.

There can never any assurance that a pet dog, no matter how placid or well-trained, is entirely safe.

"There's no guarantee," he said.

"Just about any breed has a history of serious mauling or a fatality.

"I understand people love their dogs.

(Image: Oxford Scientific RM)

"We don't name our dogs 'Spot' and 'Blacky' any more, we name them 'Ferdinand' and 'Reginald' and 'Robert'...

"We give them people names and we have humanised our dogs to a level that I think to some degree blinds us to how they really are.

"You always need to keep reality - like don't leave a dog with an infant.

"Even if you love him and he's your trusted pet - anything can happen.

"I've seen too many infants killed by dogs, family dogs.

"You have to be real about the potential.

'And if you have any questions you should get a professional evaluation to make sure you are correct."