ON APRIL 5, A WOMAN'S BODY WAS FOUND IN WALLER CREEK NEXT TO THE ETTER-HARBIN ALUMNI CENTER ON THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN CAMPUS. TWO DAYS LATER, THE WOMAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS HARUKA WEISER, A FIRST-YEAR THEATRE AND DANCE STUDENT.
For the first time in 15 years, officials are saying a homicide has occurred on campus at The University of Texas at Austin.
On April 5 at 10:46 a.m., the University of Texas Police Department responded to "reports of a deceased person in a creek on campus west of the Alumni Center," according to a UT Safety Alert.
UT police responded to reports of a dead body in Waller Creek near the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center at 10:46 a.m.
"This is a difficult and tragic day for our campus community," said UT President Greg Fenves in a news conference. "Our home has been violated."
Late Thursday morning, UT officials identified the victim as Haruka Weiser of Portland. At a press conference later in the day, Austin police released a video that shows a person of interest in Weiser's death. The man is seen in the video riding a pink or red women's bicycle. Officials are offering a $15,000 reward for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the person of interest. Go here to view video of the person of interest.
Sources close to the investigation tell KVUE News she was last seen April 3, and a missing persons report was filed about Weiser on Monday.
KVUE's Ashely Goudeau confirmed that she lived in the Prather Hall dormitory, located in the Waller Creek community within walking distance from the Alumni Center.
The Travis County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed it performed an autopsy on Weiser Wednesday morning.
This is what KVUE News has confirmed so far:
Tuesday
THE DAY THE BODY WAS FOUND
UT police investigating body found in Waller Creek as homicide
About an hour before the woman was found, UT graduate student Stephanie Sandoval was walking in the loading dock next to the creek and knew something wasn't right.
"Although Waller Creek is a creek and you know, sometimes it does have a creek smell, it did not smell like that on that day. It just smelled different and bad. Just bad," Sandoval said.
She said she thought it was a dead animal. Later that morning, the university sent an email to students and staff, alerting them of the investigation.
"I was in class and the news was everywhere," said student Nidia Cavazos. "All of a sudden students were talking, the professor took time to read it in his phone."
The Austin Police Department announced they were taking over the investigation Wednesday. After seeing the body Tuesday, UT police said they suspected it was a homicide. It's a conclusion that's leaving students with even more questions about their safety.
"Is it somebody that's out there and loose? Out for more students," Cavazos wanted to know.
"Based on current information from the investigation, the campus is safe. In order to reassure the campus, UTPD has increased bicycle and foot patrols," said UT Police Department Captain Don Verett.
President Fenves sent a tweet out just before 8 p.m., stating he had directed 50 officers from UTPD, APD and DPS to patrol the UT community.
Still, UT police are asking students to not walk alone at night and to instead use the SURE walk program.
The Texas Rangers, DPS troopers and Austin police have volunteered to help with the investigation and will also patrol the campus. Cavazos said that gives her some peace.
"If they can assure that they're doing their job then I can say that I would feel safe," she said. "You know there's always going to be dangers whether you have patrols or not, so I would just say it's up to students to be careful."
Wednesday
24 HOURS AFTER THE BODY WAS FOUND
APD IS ON THE CASE
APD has taken over as the lead investigating agency in this case, even though the body was found on campus.
APD released a statement on Wednesday:
"Extra officers will remain in the area. We do want the campus community to be vigilant, and if you see something that looks suspicious, call 9-1-1 immediately. Remember, always walk with a friend, in well-lit areas and be aware of your surroundings."
APD is working with Crime Stoppers to offer a large reward for any information leading to an arrest in this case.
The victim's identity still has not been released.
"I don't know what happened or who it happened to or what time and of course I feel like my mind is thinking the worst," said UT acting junior Gabi Walker.
STUDENTS HAVE COME TOGETHER
Student: Victim was UT dance major
Police haven't released the victim's name -- but students told KVUE she was a well-known dance student.
That possibility is leaving the dance community on campus anxious about their friend -- and their safety.
"She was really kind and just good things," said UT student Susannah Crowell. "It changes the whole dynamic and everyone's just kind of thinking twice about getting out of a group any time on campus when the sun goes down."
Sources close to the investigation told KVUE they believe the victim is a dance student who was reported missing Monday morning.
"The theater and dance department, everyone's coming together as a family and that's really nice," said UT student Kira Stein.
Crowell said it's normal for students to be leaving the Fine Arts area late at night, after rehearsals and practice sessions.
Stein said theater and dance students have come together to make sure everyone gets home safe in the wake of this tragedy.
"The theater and dance students last night when the news came, a couple of hours later we started a page just to kind of get different numbers if anyone did needs to leave rehearsal, finding buddies, getting groups together," Stein said.
Greg Fenves announced Wednesday there will now be shuttle vans to transport theater and dance students to and from the building because rehearsals and practices usually run late.
SECURITY IS INCREASED ON CAMPUS
Woman's body found in Waller Creek on UT campus
A day after the dead body was found on the UT campus, President Fenves announced on Twitter 50 officers from APD, UTPD and Department of Public Safety will be on campus to patrol the area.
“Law enforcement is working hard to investigate this week’s homicide while campus leadership is actively addressing safety at UT Austin," Fenves said.
Even with increased security on campus, many students are still uneasy.
Graduate student Lizette Berrera has been on high alert since Tuesday.
“I typically just look around. I try not to be on my cell phone late at night so I can be aware of my surroundings,” Barrera said.
Students have access to 120 call boxes across campus that can connect students with UTPD with a click of a button, placed around campus.
There is also a program on campus called SURE Walk. Students can request to be walked home and a male and female volunteer will meet them and get them home safe.
"We want to prevent anything like that from ever happening again," said director of SURE Walk Krishan Sachdev.
Sachdev said because of Tuesday's crime they're expanding to other parts of campus
"We're going to have another base at the Flawn Academic Center and the Fine Arts Center, Winship, which is really far building on campus," Sachdev said.
UT police said Wednesday they had no plans to add extra lights where the body was found and recommended students only walk in well lit areas. On Thursday, UT reached out to KVUE and said there have indeed been discussions about plans to light the area.
UT students taking precautions on campus
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
The university has several resources available for students, to help them feel physically safe and mentally sound in the wake of this tragedy.
