× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

Seeking to push back at rumors swirling about the death of Bethany Lynn Stephens, the Goochland County sheriff repeated Monday that he believes that Stephens’ dogs killed her and that it was not a case of foul play.

In the second news conference in four days about a horrific case that has gained national attention, Sheriff James Agnew provided additional grisly details about Stephens’ death last week. The 22-year-old woman was discovered by Goochland sheriff’s deputies about 8:20 p.m. Thursday in a wooded area near her father’s home.

“From what we found on the scene, from the evidence we observed, from the evidence we collected, that narrative doesn’t fit,” the sheriff said of foul play. “We had a number of witnesses who came forward, and we were able to put a time frame together and put people’s movements together.”

“Now having said that,” he added, “we are still following up on those. We are still doing some forensic tests. We are still doing interviews.”

The dogs were euthanized Saturday after permission was secured from Stephens’ family, and their bodies are being preserved as evidence as the investigation continues, the sheriff said.