Chester County detectives are investigating the death of a 24-year-old pre-kindergarten teacher who was found dead on Memorial Day, in a swimming hole located in Pennsylvania. On Thursday, she was identified as Ryan Stevyn Benjamin. Evidence demonstrates that she did not drown.
Last Tuesday, a resident of Pigeon Creek in East Coventry Township, reported the discovery of Benjamin’s body to police officers. The woman was found in the water, tied to a cinder block. Investigators said that she might not have been shot.
According to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, Benjamin was probably killed before being thrown into the water, since there is no physical evidence of strangulation, water in her lungs, or blunt force trauma, said Phillyvoice.com.
Officers are actively investigating the case, said the Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan. He added that Benjamin was an “outgoing and sociable woman,” who had friends in West Chester.
Attorney Tom Hogan: “The police are closing in”
Benjamin was a graduate of Juniata College, where she obtained a bachelor of science degree in elementary and early childhood education, said authorities to Daily Local. Hogan stated that she was also a certified teacher, who worked with pre-kindergarten kids.
The 24-year-old was identified using short pants and a short sleeve t-shirt. She was also wearing jewelry, including bracelets and rings, added Hogan. Authorities will analyze DNA tests and dental records from the Chester County Coroner’s Office to obtain more data about Benjamin.
#BREAKING : Chesco DA Id's woman found in pond tied to cinder block as RYAN Stevyn Benjamin of Pottstown, Pa. pic.twitter.com/v8iiUYRO0F
— Dann Cuellar (@DannCuellar) June 2, 2016
Police have not found evidence about Benjamin’s death yet
Investigators went to the swimming hole on Wednesday, to analyze the scene with a VideoRay underwater camera. Chester County Detectives and the East Coventry Police Department are jointly working on the case.
Officers have not found any evidence under water. According to reports, Benjamin was found dead at around 11:15 a.m. on Memorial Day. Children were reportedly swimming in the hole on Sunday. Benjamin’s body may have been thrown between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.
Hogan said on Tuesday that somebody had thrown the woman away “like a piece of trash.” People with information about Benjamin can contact Chester County Detective Sergeant Tom Goggin at 610-344-6866, according to Daily Local.
“The person who dumped Ryan’s body in the water knows what they did and knows the police are closing in. Every moment that this person stays on the run makes it look worse. This individual should come into authorities now,” Hogan was quoted as saying by Daily Local.
Source: Daily Local