Inquest: Bethell was shotMarilyn BethellBy Matt Hanley Staff Writer of the Aurora Beacon News, Aurora IL.GENEVA — A coroner's inquest held Wednesday finally revealed how Marilyn Bethell was killed. Now, police say they are following solid leads about who might have been involved in the murder of the 47-year-old Aurora resident. Bethell's body was found along a bicycle path in an unincorporated area north of Aurora, but severe decomposition prevented investigators from determining an exact cause of death. Wednesday, a Kane County coroner's deputy testified that an autopsy confirmed Bethell died from a gunshot wound to the head. Bethell's body already had suffered extensive decay and animal damage when it was found by a man walking his dog on the evening of Dec. 26, 2005. Even after thawing, it took police two days to positively identify the body using dental records. Police previously have said evidence at the scene leads them to believe she was killed where the body was found.However, the coroner's office is still waiting for test results to determine how long the body had been there. Wednesday, the coroner's jury formally ruled the death a homicide — a conclusion under which police have been working since Bethell's car was involved in an unusual incident on Halloween morning. On Oct. 31, 2005, Bethell's car slammed into a parked vehicle less than a mile from her house, and a man carrying a gun got out of the car. That person, described by police as a black male, then was hit by a red or maroon Intrepid that had been following Bethell's car. The man then got into the Intrepid and the driver, also believed to be carrying a gun, sped away. Aurora detective Marc Butlett testified Wednesday that, after the accident was discovered, officers went to Bethell's house in the 2500 block of Quail Court in the far northern portion of Aurora. Officers found the house locked, except for the kitchen window that was slightly ajar. They entered the house and began a criminal investigation, Butlett said. Bethell's pillows and bedsheets were missing, although the house was otherwise in order, sources confirmed. Besides the manner of death, little new information emerged during the inquest. Butlett said a neighbor had seen Bethell's car pulling out of her driveway the morning of the accident, but "no one could tell who the driver was." After the inquest, Kane County Sheriff's Detective Steve Reitmeyer expressed confidence in the investigation. Kane County became the lead agency when Bethell's body was found in their jurisdiction. While Reitmeyer stopped short of saying there are definite suspects in the case, he said his department would catch the people involved. "There's always suspects," he said. "We don't have anyone in custody at this point, but we've got leads that are solid." Bethell's friend, Deborah Eastman, attended the inquest and was not surprised to learn Bethell had been shot. "It wasn't a terrible shock," she said. "It's still kind of the same — it's still who did this and where are they?" To provide information •Anyone with information about Marilyn Bethell's murder is asked to call Kane County detectives at (630) 208-2036. Callers may remain anonymous by calling Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000.