A 22-year-old woman was found dead in a forest after she was mauled to death by her own dogs.
Bethany Lynn Stephens was found dead in a grisly scene on Thursday, two days after she was last seen heading out to walk her dogs.
Her father made the horrifying discoveryafter he found the dogs were aggressively "guarding" his daughter's body, according to County Sheriff James L Agnew, Virginia media reported.
He quickly called emergency services, but when they arrived, police spent about 60 to 90 minutes attempting to catch the dogs, described as pit bulls.
"It appeared the attack was a violent attack initiated by the victims' dogs while the victim was out for a walk with the dogs," Sheriff Agnew said.
"The victim had defensive wounds on her hands and arms trying to keep the dogs away from her, which would be consistent with being attacked while she was still alive.
"It appears she was taken to the ground, lost consciousness, and the dogs then mauled her to death," he said.
Bethany Lynn Stephens' pit bulls were believed to be bred for fighting. Photo / Facebook / Bethany Stephens
It is believed the dogs had been bred for fighting.
