Everything about Patricia Bentley's murder is enshrouded in mystery.
The 38-year-old mother of two was found dead in her Chantilly townhouse, Saturday morning, and Fairfax County police are awaiting autopsy results to pinpoint the exact cause of her death.
Her killer is still at large, and police declined to speculate on possible suspects or a motive. But stunned neighbors in the 13800 block of Beaujolais Court in Brookfield described Bentley as a quiet person who kept to herself, was a good mother and had an immaculate home.
"Everybody was surprised," said neighbor Deborah Littlecook. "Nobody would have thought something like that would have happened to her. She was a nice, peaceful and friendly person."
"I was shocked, and I feel bad for her family," said Bentley's next-door neighbor Janet Trout. "What a horrible thing to find; I can't even imagine."
Both a relative and a friend last spoke with Bentley, Friday evening, but became concerned Saturday morning when they were unable to reach her. Her two sons, ages 8 and 15, had spent the night with their grandmother, and one of them found her body in an upstairs bedroom upon returning home Saturday morning.
Crying, he went to a neighbor's and said his mother was dead. After the neighbor called 911, at 10:14 a.m., police had the neighbor check on the woman to see if she still had a pulse and could possibly be revived, but it was too late.
Police didn't find any signs of forced entry or evidence of a struggle inside Bentley's home, and there was no immediate indication of how she died. Police said she sustained "upper-body trauma," but declined to elaborate further.
Little is known about her personal life, except that she was a single mother and drove a school bus for Loudoun County Schools. She was employed there since May 1996 and drove a route in South Riding.
"We'd see her in the morning, leaving for her bus route, coming home and going out again in the afternoon," said Littlecook. "She was a neat dresser and was exercising. She had recently lost weight and was feeling good about herself. She seemed in good spirits and had herself together."
Like the others, Bentley's townhouse faces a tranquil, tree-shaded courtyard where children play and things are usually quiet. She'd lived there since November, and Littlecook said the neighbors were looking forward to getting to know her better.
Trout said they'd exchanged pleasantries at the mailbox and Bentley's sons were well-mannered. Then, Saturday afternoon, she came home from doing errands to discover police cruisers and detectives all around and yellow crime-scene tape on Bentley's townhouse.
"An officer was knocking on my door," said Trout. "I asked Mrs. Littlecook what happened, and she said, 'They found Pat dead.' The police were there until 3:30-4 o'clock, and they were still wandering around after dark."
"They were questioning everybody, and I was translating for some of the Hispanic neighbors," said Littlecook. "The police wanted to know if we'd seen or heard anything suspicious."
But nobody had. Trout, up Friday night until 11 p.m., said there was "no arguing, banging — nothing that would indicate anything was wrong next door." The same was true of Littlecook, who'd been up until 3 a.m. "I wish we had heard something," she said. "Then, maybe we could have helped her."
Saddened by the tragedy, she expressed concern about Bentley's children. As for herself, though, Littlecook said she wasn't personally afraid and didn't believe the killer was some random intruder because "we've never had anything like this happen in the neighborhood."
Trout felt likewise because "there was no break-in and I didn't see any strangers or unusual vehicles. I think it was definitely a personal thing."
Meanwhile, police are keeping mum on whatever details they have learned, and they're asking the public's help with the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 703-691-2131.