OXFORD – An autopsy on the body of a Battle Ground woman confirms she was strangled to death by a python.

Benton County Coroner Matt Rosenbarger and Newton County Coroner Scott McCord conducted the autopsy of 36-year-old Laura Hurst on Friday.

They confirmed asphyxiation as the cause of death, pending final toxicology results.

Police found the 8-foot python wrapped around Hurst’s neck when they arrived Wednesday evening. Medics attempted to revive her but were not successful.

Hurst owned 20 of the 140 or so snakes living in what police described as a reptile house. She visited them twice a week according to investigators.