With the death of long-time Pungo Christian Academy teacher Brenda Hamilton, people were concerned, even terrified, that such a seemingly random attack happened here in Beaufort County. They wanted answers: what attacked the 77-year-old when she was out on her morning walk? Who is going to find out? What can be done to prevent it from happening again?

All that’s known for certain is that it was an attack by an animal or multiple animals. Dog, wolf, coyote, panther, cougar — many people have weighed in on what could have caused those fatal injuries. And the questions needing answers remain.

County commissioners have formed a committee to find the answers, not because they know more than law enforcement, wildlife officials or biologists, but because there is no standard protocol in place to find those answers. None of those agencies are equipped or trained to determine what animal killed Brenda Hamilton when there were no witnesses to the attack and so very little evidence available.

The purpose of the committee is to continue the investigation where it had stagnated, through no fault of any of those agencies. But a more specialized look at Hamilton’s death needs to be taken; experts called in to steer investigative efforts in the right direction and to the right resources.

There may never be resolution in this case, but the Board of Commissioners is exerting a true effort to make it happen to bring closure to friends and family and allay fears about the wildlife that lives alongside us, though normally at a distance. The attack on Brenda Hamilton was an aberration.

A definitive answer won’t change anything, but it sure would bring some peace to plenty of people in Beaufort County.