The circumstances surrounding the death of a young Alabama woman in the U.S. Virgin Islands in June remain shrouded in uncertainty.
Lily Ledbetter, a 22-year-old, was discovered dead inside an apartment on St. John island in Cruz Bay, as reported by the Daily Mail. Ledbetter, who grew up in Opelika, Alabama, was alone on the island at the time of her death, where she worked part-time for a non-profit organization, the Animal Care Center of St. John.
Photos show Ledbetter and the outside of the island animal shelter:
Upon finding Ledbetter unconscious in an Estate Enighed apartment, authorities subsequently pronounced her dead. The cause of her death, however, remains undisclosed, although an autopsy has been reported to be underway.
The Virgin Islands Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau is probing the case, as per the Virgin Islands Consortium, but officials have yet to reveal any findings concerning Ledbetter’s untimely demise.
Graduating as an honors student from Opelika High School in 2019, Lily was active with the dance team, show choir, band, and numerous clubs and organizations. Lily attended Auburn University and competed with the Auburn University Women’s Rowing Club.
She met no strangers, and her laughter and zest for life were infectious. As an animal lover, especially cats, she spent time working at the animal shelter in St. John. Lily was everyone’s best friend.
In her obituary, Ledbetter was described as a vibrant young woman with an infectious laugh, a dazzling smile, and a zest for life that inspired many. It stated, “Watching Lily dance was truly breathtaking. Her passion was utterly riveting, lighting up the stage.”
A social media post by Sarah Ledbetter, Lily’s stepmother, announced a memorial service for Lily, held on June 17 in Opelika. The post, dated June 14, thanked friends and family for their prayers and requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Lee County Humane Society in Lily’s memory.
Condolences and expressions of sympathy have been shared widely on social media, with friends and acquaintances offering prayers and comfort to the grieving family.