Officials said the consulate began taking fire at about 10pm Libya time. Fifteen minutes later, the attackers got past "robust security"- American and Libyan - and into the building, setting it on fire.
Officials said there were three people inside at the time - Stevens, Sean Smith, a state department technician, and an American security guard
The guard escaped but went back into the building to try and find Stevens. He came across Smith, who was already dead, but could not find the ambassador before the guard was driven out by the fire and thick smoke.
About an hour later, American security personnel were able to get back into the consulate but Stevens was gone. US officials said that at some point - although they do not know the time - the ambassador either escaped the consulate or was helped out and was taken to hospital by Libyans. It is not clear if he was alive at that point.
US officials did not discover what happened to Stevens until his body was returned to them at Benghazi airport at about dawn. They say they do not yet know the cause of his death although a doctor at the hospital who treated Stevens said he succumbed to smoke inhalation.
Officials declined to speculate on who was behind the attack or whether it was preplanned or opportunistic. But one said that intelligence of potential attacks on US targets to mark the anniversary of 9/11 did not flag up any warnings in Benghazi.
An official also said that a Libyan militia, formed during the revolution, came to the defense of the US consulate.
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