Authorities have identified the woman found in an East Coventry pond Monday as Ryan Stevyn Benjamin, a pre-kindergarten teacher from Pottstown.
WEST CHESTER — Authorities say they’ve identified the woman whose body appeared to have been dumped into an East Coventry pond either Sunday night or Monday morning — and issued a warning for the party or parties responsible: they’re closing in on you.
Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan identified the woman as 24-year-old Ryan Stevyn Benjamin of Pottstown. A graduate of Juniata College, she was a certified teacher who had been working as a pre-kindergarten teacher.
Hogan, in issuing a statement on the development Thursday, said investigators are actively pursuing leads and it is just a matter of time before whomever left her body in the pond tethered to a cinderblock in apparent attempt to hide it, would be brought to justice.
“This is a very active investigation,” Hogan said. “The victim was an outgoing and sociable young woman, with many friends in the West Chester area. Anybody who had contact with her over the Memorial Day weekend should contact the police immediately.”
Somewhere, he said, there’s a guilty party and the net is closing in.
“The person who dumped Ryan’s body in the water knows what they did and knows that the police are closing in,” he said. “Every moment that this person stays on the run makes it look worse. This individual should come in to authorities now.“
As of yet, no cause of death has been announced, although earlier in the week authorities said it is believed that Benjamin was dead when her body was put in the water.
This case continues to be investigated by the Chester County Detectives and the East Coventry Police Department. Anybody with information should contact Chester County Detective Sgt. Tom Goggin at 610-344-6866.
