Autumn Nicole Draper Found Dead in Cave in Virginia: Investigation Underway

Accident – death – Obituary News : Woman Found Dead in Virginia Cave: Investigation Underway

A tragic incident unfolded on Friday afternoon in southwestern Virginia when a woman was discovered dead inside a cave. Authorities believe she fell approximately 100 feet, and the incident is currently under investigation.

The cave, located in the rural community of Staffordsville in Giles County, sits along the West Virginia border, about an hour’s drive from Roanoke. Sheriff’s deputies, fire officials from nearby Pearisburg, and a county rescue squad all responded to a 911 call placed at around 4:15 p.m. on Friday. The call reported that a woman had fallen within a cave in the area, leading them to her lifeless body.

Upon arriving at the scene, responders quickly realized the need for additional specialized resources. Giles County Emergency Services stated in a news release that another emergency response crew and a technical rescue cave team joined the recovery efforts. Together, they were able to extricate the woman’s body.

The woman has been identified as Autumn Nicole Draper, a 38-year-old who lived approximately 30 miles from the cave in Fairlawn. According to CBS affiliate WDBJ, Draper’s identification was confirmed through DMV records.

The circumstances surrounding why Draper was inside the cave and how she fell from such heights remain unclear. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has documented over 4,400 caves throughout the state, with about a dozen designated as “show caves” for tourism purposes.

Virginia caves have served various purposes throughout history, including shelter, religious practices, moonshine production, mining, scientific research, and recreation. Humans are presently the largest animals that visit these caves, as stated by the state energy department in a pamphlet on geology and mineral resources.

Giles County alone boasts at least 253 caves, according to the Virginia Speleological Survey, a volunteer organization that studies caves and owns a nature preserve in the area. The county is home to several notable caves, including one that is 718 feet deep and another that spans more than 118,000 feet in length, although the average length of caves in the county is 1,287 feet.

The investigation into Autumn Nicole Draper’s death is ongoing, as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding her tragic fall. As more details emerge, it is hoped that the cause of this unfortunate incident will become clearer.

Emily Mae Czachor, a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com, contributed to this report. Czachor specializes in covering breaking news, with a focus on crime and extreme weather. Her previous work has been featured in reputable outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed, and Newsweek..