A preliminary autopsy report shows a veteran Kern County assistant district attorney was beaten in the head as well as stabbed. The body of Stephen Tauzer was found by a friend yesterday inside Tauzer´s garage. Authorities say the friend grew concerned because Tauzer hadn´t been heard from in a few days. He noticed the garage door unlocked and found Tauzer´s body lying in a pool of blood. Kern County Sheriff Carl Sparks says the investigation into Tauzer´s death will be given top priority. Tauzer was a 27-year veteran of the DA´s office who prosecuted high-profile murder cases. Kern County Sheriff´s Commander Marty Williamson says detectives are in the process of examining cases Tauzer had prosecuted. There have been no arrests.