First degree murder charges have already been filed against an ex-boyfriend and he is in holding. Here’s the letter sent out by John Casteen to the UVA mailing list:
(See below for update @ 2:37PM EST)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
To the University community:
We have learned this morning about the death of a University student, apparently late Sunday night or early this morning, in an apartment on 14th Street. Statements from University Police Chief Michael Gibson and the Charlottesville Police Department appear below.
Although we know no details of the police investigation of this death, we note with concern that the Charlottesville Police Department is treating the case as a homicide investigation. In Chief Gibson’s statement, you will find general advice on personal safety and specific instructions on how to reach the police quickly if you find yourself in danger and if you believe that someone else may be in danger.
Obviously, we take the death of any student very seriously, and we support the police investigation into the causes of this death. Please read Chief Gibson’s and the Charlottesville Police Department’s statements carefully and completely, and cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. If you have information that may be relevant to the investigation, follow the Charlottesville Police Department’s advice: call Charlottesville Police Sergeant Mark Brake at 970-3970 or Crime Stoppers at 977-4000.
Leonard Sandridge John Casteen
A Message from Mike Gibson, Chief of Police
Monday, May 3, 2010
This email is to alert the community that the Charlottesville Police Department is conducting an investigation on the suspicious death of one of our students in a private residence in the 14th Street area. While very few details are available at this time we would encourage the community to visit the UVA Homepage for updated information.
While Charlottesville remains a relatively safe environment, crimes do occur in our community. The best defense is to be prepared and to take responsibility for your own safety and for that of your friends and fellow students. A few key reminders:
Trust your instincts about a person or situation. If you feel uncomfortable, immediately report your concerns to police by calling 911.
If you are on the Grounds and need help, pick up one of the blue-light telephones. You will be immediately connected to University Police. Be aware of your surroundings. Do not let a cell phone conversation or listening to music distract you when crossing the street or in any type of situation that calls for your full attention.
Avoid isolated areas and walking alone at night. Use SafeRide (434-242-1122), walk with friends, or take a late-night weekend bus.
Keep your doors and windows locked.
Never allow strangers to follow you into a locked building and gain entry by “tailgating” you once you swipe the card reader in a residence hall. Also, never prop open card-reader doors.
If you see any of the following, immediately call the police at 911: a prowler, someone peeping into a residence, an individual watching, photographing or filming an area, or any other suspicious behavior.
Work with your neighbors and fellow community members to ensure a safe environment.
For additional safety tips from University Police, please see http://www.virginia.edu/uvapolice/prevention.html#Residence.
A Statement from the Charlottesville Police Department
Monday, May 3, 2010
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA – On the morning of May 3, 2010 at 0215 hrs, City Police were called to 14th ST N.W. for a possible alcohol overdose. Officers arrived and found a female University of Virginia Student unresponsive in the apartment. Police Officers and Rescue personnel who were called to the scene attempted to revive the victim but were unsuccessful.
Police are treating the case as a homicide investigation at this time.
Victim identification is being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Charlottesville Police Sergeant Mark Brake at 970-3970 or Crime Stoppers at 977-4000.
President Casteen approved distribution of this message.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Stay tuned for more details. Our thoughts are with both families.
UPDATE:
An update from Casteen: (http://www.virginia.edu/emergency/message050310.html)
Message from President Casteen
Earlier today, we released a statement about a Charlottesville Police investigation of an apparent homicide in which the victim is a University of Virginia student. A just-released update of an earlier Charlottesville Police statement about this investigation identifies the victim as Yeardley Love, a fourth-year student from Cockeysville, Maryland, and a Varsity lacrosse player. The updated Charlottesville Police Department statement appears just below this one along with advice to students from University Police Chief Michael Gibson. The Charlottesville Police statement also discloses that George Huguely, a fourth-year student from Chevy Chase, Maryland, and a Varsity men’s lacrosse player, has been charged with First Degree Murder, and is in custody at the Charlottesville/Albemarle jail. We urge all students and faculty/staff to read both of the following statements with care.
Although we know nothing other than what appears in the Charlottesville Police Department’s more recent statement, this death moves us to deep anguish for the loss of a student of uncommon talent and promise, and we express the University’s and our own sympathy for Yeardley’s family, team-mates, and friends. That she appears now to have been murdered by another student compounds this sense of loss by suggesting that Yeardley died without comfort or consolation from those closest to her. We mourn her death and feel anger on reading that the investigators believe that another student caused it. Like students who have contacted us in the last few minutes, we know no explanation of what appears now to have happened.
Police investigators and the courts will eventually determine what happened and make judgments on the basis of evidence submitted by the police and the Commonwealth’s Attorney. Meantime, along with all in the University and family members and friends elsewhere, we grieve and ache for this loss. It is easy to imagine that professional counseling services may prove useful to any number of students as we try to assimilate this information. If you wish to meet with a counselor or one of the deans, call the office of the dean of students at 924-7133, and if you believe that a friend or acquaintance needs support and is not asking for it, call the same number, and explain what you have seen. Don’t hesitate to call. Don’t feel embarrassment about calling. Don’t keep quiet about a grieving friend who seems to need assistance but to be unable to request it.
And let us all acknowledge that, however little we may know now about Yeardley Love’s death, we do know that she did not have or deserve to die–that she deserved the bright future she earned growing up, studying here, and developing her talents as a lacrosse player. She deserves to be remembered for her human goodness, her capacity for future greatness, and for the terrible way in which her young life has ended.
John Casteen
A Statement from the Charlottesville Police Department
Monday, May 3, 2010 (1:33 p.m.)
University Student Found Deceased (Update)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA – Regarding the death of a University of Virginia student occurring at a 14th ST N.W. apartment, the victim has since been identified as 22 year old, Yeardley Love. Ms. Love was a fourth year University of Virginia Student from Cockeysville, Maryland who played on the Women’s Lacrosse Team.
Preliminary investigation by detectives revealed that Ms. Love is the victim of an apparent homicide. She suffered visible physical trauma, however the specific cause of death is undetermined pending an autopsy.
George Huguely, a senior at the University of Virginia from Chevy Chase MD who plays for the UVA Men’s lacrosse team, has been charged with First Degree Murder and is in custody at the Charlottesville/Albemarle jail.
According to witnesses, Huguely and Love had a past relationship.
Charlottesville Police are continuing to investigate the case and will provide more details as they become available.
Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to call Charlottesville Police Sergeant Mark Brake at 970-3970 or Crime Stoppers at 977-4000.
#1 by shenanigans on May 3, 2010 - 1:28 pm
Holy shit she’s from Cockeysville. used to live there…
#2 by brewer998 on May 3, 2010 - 1:34 pm
There is obviously more to this than is currently known publicly. Called in for alcohol overdose and investigating as a homicide?
1+1 != 3 (for those familiar with C programming)
#3 by secondhandsally on May 3, 2010 - 1:35 pm
This is terrible.
It also strikes me that many (if not all) of the police safety tips are about how to avoid an attack from a stranger…
#4 by secondhandsally on May 3, 2010 - 1:39 pm
I wish the police would take some time to publicize something like this: http://womenscenter.virginia.edu/sdvs/domestic/checklist.htm
#5 by Lauren on May 3, 2010 - 1:41 pm
Jesus what is going on today?
This Monday can go upstairs and take a nap and not come down again until its feeling less stabby on my heart.
Yeah, Sally, I obviously agree about the STRANGER DANGER! ridiculousness. Regarding intimate partner violence, SHE and SARA are both good resources.
#6 by Loki on May 3, 2010 - 1:53 pm
Sorry about your comments going to moderation Lauren. We had a spam filter that was catching part of your email address as spam. Ha! It’s fixed now.
#7 by Lauren on May 3, 2010 - 1:54 pm
I am a Russian spy. You caught me. I surrender.
#8 by Loki on May 3, 2010 - 1:55 pm
Well I initially thought it was from all the pr0n you were posting, but that wasn’t it…
#9 by MzFitz on May 3, 2010 - 2:07 pm
The police safety tips are not only inappropriate, but show a complete disconnect.
Your link is way more appropriate for the situation Sally.
#10 by belmont, yo on May 3, 2010 - 2:41 pm
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/virginia/uva-suspected-homicide.html
#11 by Loki on May 3, 2010 - 3:31 pm
It’s very sad… Even if you didn’t know her (which I didn’t) it’s hard not to feel the effects. The police statements of safety are generic and happen whenever someone gets attacked, robbed, or an ipod stolen out of a car.
I second the quality of the link sally posted @3. Thank you.
#12 by MzFitz on May 4, 2010 - 11:34 am
His attorney says it’s an accident. Obvious physical trauma, no weapon, and he left the scene. What little is known, doesn’t look like an accident.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/04/AR2010050402215.html?hpid=topnews
Also, why does The Hook always add this unnecessary BS to their “reporting?”
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2010/05/04/huguely-lawyer-yeardley-loves-killing-not-intended/
If you’re writing up a quick update on a murder, why create a relationship that is in no way relevant at this point? In a few years, if it turns out to be a strangling case involving an privileged preppy white male, then I can understand why a relationship would be created.
#13 by MzFitz on May 4, 2010 - 11:38 am
Didn’t see the part about the swinging and violent shaking until just now, but they should hold off on the relationship until it’s actually relevant.
#14 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 11:51 am
Swinging by the neck and slamming her head against the wall? Ummm, yeah. Sounds *real* accidental to me…
Speaking of preppy whites in the media and their involvement in crimes which the media makes high profile… is anyone else sick of the fact that the national media only pays attention to these cases when the victim is a pretty white female?
As tragic as it is, this sort of thing happens every day. It happens to white women and women of every ethnic extraction you can think of. Why is it that only pretty white women (being blond is also a plus) get national coverage?
#15 by Doc on May 4, 2010 - 11:57 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_white_woman_syndrome
#16 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 2:00 pm
Yes, and yes. However, why is it that someone always brings this up when a white girl is killed? I get it. Our culture is biased. But is it appropriate to bring up when people are grieving and/or worried? Probably not. Using death as a social soapbox isn’t classy.
I know where you’re coming from but I think MzFitz’ point is a good one. Lest this turn into some CNN blog comments. If you ever read those you know what I’m talking about.
#17 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 2:07 pm
I haven’t read them. And why isn’t this the right time to ask those questions? Death happens every day and will happen to everyone here. Using your logic it would never be classy to talk about any misfortune, since someone somewhere will always be experiencing that misfortune. Weak logic.
#18 by belmont, yo on May 4, 2010 - 2:09 pm
I ask honestly: how could the fact that they had been/currently were romantically involved not be relevant? Even money the “relationship”, whatever it was, turns out being at least 80% of the motive for whatever went down. Also, its good to know that athletes are mucking about killing total strangers. Or am I completely misunderstanding?
/sry if thats too CNN a question.
#19 by belmont, yo on May 4, 2010 - 2:10 pm
“…that athletes arent mucking about…” that is.
#20 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 2:11 pm
I mean, really, Loki – why even post the article if you’re going to dissuade discussion on the topic? And said topic is death? Really?
#21 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 2:12 pm
@18 – it is utterly relative. The police don’t investigate lovers/spouses first for no reason. Decades and decades of evidence says that’s the quickest place to hit pay-dirt.
#22 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 2:26 pm
We could argue about whether the new Against Me! album sucks or doesn’t. A lot of people seem to think it’s crap – even people who liked ‘New Wave’. Then we’d be just like punknews.org.
I’m just saying that making this into something political (when its not) is not really the point. I didn’t say it wasn’t classy to talk about misfortune – just that it wasn’t classy to turn it into something political. I’m also not saying don’t talk about it. I’m just saying that I personally don’t think its appropriate, I speak not for the site.
#23 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 2:26 pm
Also, I didn’t post the article – Donk did.
#24 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 2:37 pm
Well, if you remove the meta-discussion (discussions on topics related) then there really isn’t much to discuss, is there? There are very few facts out right now.
What you said was using death as a social soapbox wasn’t classy. So is it social or political? Or is there an inextricable link between the two? And to say that there won’t be social/political wranglings in these proceedings if only because the defendant looks capable of hiring a slick defense attorney is probably a ridiculous statement. My point being that in my opinion the political, social, and legal are rarely separate, so why pretend like they are?
Seeing that social and political forces will invariably play out with this tragedy, why not discuss them? Social forces (the media) are already playing out. This is day one of coverage. I predict by day three the media will have already tried and convicted the suspect – right or wrong.
So what discussion on this matter at this point would be complete or even interesting given the lack of hard investigative facts available?
And about Against Me! – if this were a music site then why else would you post an article about the album if you didn’t expect some debate on the merits of the album?
#25 by belmont, yo on May 4, 2010 - 2:41 pm
Here is an article we can make political.
I know its like what, the 57th conservative bible anti gay bible thumper to get caught with some strange, but he was a biggie! I just cant get enough of the hypocrisy as it reinforces my ideas, and the excuses are simply hilarious. He was just there to “lift my luggage”? After a ten day all expenses paid trip to bermuda? Furreals?
I highly encourage everyone to add “lift my luggage” to the lexicon of repression with “wide stance”, “santorum”, “the black guys made me”, “have you achieved rock?”, “turning a page”, “hiking the appalachian trail”… and well… there should be list some where. Im losing track.
/end thread jack.
#26 by MzFitz on May 4, 2010 - 2:43 pm
That’s not the “relationship” I meant. Sorry that I didn’t make that clear. I meant the fact that the hook provided little to no evidence in their post, then went on to say that this is shaping up to be like the Preppy Murder. Even though he did choke her, it’s way to early to start relating this to the atrocious defense that was used in that case. They just need to report the facts, hopefully in as tasteful of a way as possible.
The problem that I have with The Hook stems from the fact that in every story the Mztr Fitz has been interviewed for, whether it’s for his work or music, the reporters have always predetermined what the story is going to be. This method of “journalism” often results in his being misquoted, the quote being used out or context, or was the case in the last interview, it just made no sense. I can’t imagine what else they get wrong…
#27 by Floozy on May 4, 2010 - 2:44 pm
…is anyone else sick of the fact that the national media only pays attention to these cases when the victim is a pretty white female?
We all heard about it when Rihanna got 7 shades of shit knocked out of her a while back.
#28 by MzFitz on May 4, 2010 - 2:49 pm
@25, is this real? The date is May 6, 2010. Did I just lose a week of my life? Are Outlook and MobileMe both wrong?
If this is correct, we’ll have to find a place for him here.
#29 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 2:50 pm
Mz Fitz discusses an angle related to media coverage (the Hook)… yet no Loki stepping in to say it isn’t “classy.” So I wonder what the real objection is here?
And btw – I agree totally with your point, Mz Fitz. The Hook is a rag worthy of use in porta-potties when the TP runs out and very little else. I detect little to no actual journalism in their efforts ever.
/ and yes – Loki saying I wasn’t “classy” did sting a bit… *sniff, sniff*
#30 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 2:51 pm
@27 – Well, she’s a celebrity. She’s an exception.
#31 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 2:53 pm
@24 one of the reasons that I didn’t post the article. It’s good to keep people updated but otherwise we’re basically coattailing on info that UVa has already made publicly available. In the future I think it might be far better to post stuff that would be a positive response to this tragedy rather than using it to bounce our stats up (which they apparently did). I really liked some of the stuff that has been posted in these comments – even if they’re not about the murder. Maybe this is a place to talk about social issues and safety and gender and awareness, etc? I just don’t want to be one of the places that exploits this to chalk this girl up as another example of how fucked up the media is. I just know if I was this girls family that I wouldn’t want to read anything that talked about her like a statistic – like every other damn blog or news agency probably is. It is tragic but we can maybe learn from it? At least something positive?
#32 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 2:55 pm
@29 Buck up! You’d tell me yourself you weren’t classy
Cause I know you personally!
/oh shit we’re cliquey now!
#33 by belmont, yo on May 4, 2010 - 2:58 pm
@ 28 Dunno why the date’s screwed up, I heard the news through an aussie news aggregator, so maybe it went around the world a couple extra times before it arrived. But Its real, and glorious (Dan Savage’s comment on it are hilarious as always. Havent been so happy since Louisiana’s Mr. Family Values Vitter was outed as having a prostitution/ adult baby fetish.
We should have a contest, like the Patton O. one, where we try to name the conservative* politico with his now not so secret shame. Cept I have no delicious beer to give away…
*No, it doesn’t matter what letter comes after their name. Im looking at you Spitzer.
#34 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 3:01 pm
@31 – yes, well that’s exactly what I was saying – or trying to foster discussion on. Shouldn’t we, as a society, pay attention to domestic violence even when the victim lives in a trailer park or a ghetto? Why the hell do we care more about Rhianna than Betsy Jo Shifflett? We’re a hell of a lot more likely to know Betsy Jo than Rhianna.
@32 – I know, I know. You didn’t smell the sarcasm dripping off that *sniff, sniff*?
#35 by MzFitz on May 4, 2010 - 3:03 pm
@33, I’ll be sure to actually listen to Mr. Savage’s podcast in a timely manner this week.
#36 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 3:04 pm
YES, and you’re exactly right. We should. But essentially what we’ve done here by making it the big topic of discussion is to assign this girl who was murdered a sex and a color and we have defined her by that. Her name ceases to be Yeardley Love, and it becomes ‘white girl’. Aren’t we becoming what we are complaining about?
#37 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 3:05 pm
Also this is far more a class issue than race if you really want to get down to brass tacks about it.
#38 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 3:09 pm
Well, in point of fact, no, we aren’t becoming that which we rail against. Do you ever hear Fox or CNN say,
“And tonight… Why the hell is our coverage so racially and socially biased? Why, in God’s name, have we abandoned our obligation as the Fourth Estate?”
#39 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 3:09 pm
@37 – already beat you to that punch a la trailer parks and ghettoes.
#40 by belmont, yo on May 4, 2010 - 3:24 pm
The solution is to get another top article up there to bump this one down a bit. The discussion dies down and perhaps can be revisited when more facts are known beyond the thankfully sparing few available. Easy peasy, and it better be something silly. You know, to balance txtnly’s chakras or something.
/put up or shut up?
#41 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 3:25 pm
I’d encourage anyone to comment. I know there are people who read this stuff and maybe feel like they can’t jump in but please do.
#42 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 3:25 pm
Good idea B’yo.
#43 by secondhandsally on May 4, 2010 - 3:31 pm
@36 It sounds like you’re saying that we shouldn’t talk about race or gender (or class) of the parties involved because we can’t have these discussions and keep in mind that the are also “real people.” But real people live within races, classes, and genders and its part of who they are. When it comes to violence in America and how that violence is subsequently discussed it these matrices are extremely relevant.
It also seems like you’re making a time and place argument (as in, this is not the time nor the place to be discussing how race/gender/class factors into Love’s murder or how the media portrays that murder). But these are important discussions to have as the way we discuss violence often has left people feeling like “their” story is excluded from the discourse, isolating people with a similar background who are experiencing “lower levels” of violence and making them feel like they are alone.
I get that you don’t want to make Love a symbol. But my point is: we can have a race, class, and gender (and have those things have meaning, important meaning) without being a symbol.
#44 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 3:34 pm
@43 it’s also entirely possible I should try to stay out of it. I just sort of sensed the avenue this was going down and tried to shift it a little. It was definitely more of a ‘time and place’ sort of thing. It is understandable that we only talk about this stuff when something tragic happens – and maybe thats good. Perhaps I should let it flow too. It’s just that we won’t be talking about this in 2 months when this has calmed down in the news.
Perhaps you’re right that we should be talking about it now, you make a good point that I didn’t really think about. I’d just like to remind people to keep it civil and not jump all over eachother. I apologize if I jumped on anyone.
#45 by belmont, yo on May 4, 2010 - 3:36 pm
Perhaps this evening I will write the story of Rob Thrasher, which might be funny or might be creepy… depending on how high one’s tolerance is for men who live in vans and have peculiar photo albums…
#46 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 3:40 pm
And so it’s clear, the point I was trying to begin a discussion on was the racial/social/gender issue whose injustice I thought was neatly encapsulated in the media’s coverage of this tragedy and an unending parade of others.
I didn’t lead out with a fully formed, 10 paragraph argument because posts like that don’t exactly promote discussion.
#47 by brewer998 on May 4, 2010 - 3:41 pm
@45 – now you have to write that article. You can’t tease us like that!
#48 by Loki on May 4, 2010 - 3:42 pm
@46 They do here. Unless your name is shenanigans and then you just post TL/DR.
#49 by belmont, yo on May 4, 2010 - 4:20 pm
@ 47 Sure why not. Lets see if I can get shunned by the whole town once and for all. I swear, since these local blog thingies and story telling events started up, its a wonder anyone speaks with me IRL at all.
#50 by MzFitz on May 4, 2010 - 4:34 pm
In other (way less important) breaking news, I figured out why my I’ve had a numb tongue and sore throat for the last week: Arugula!
It’s too bad because I’ve got six plants of the stuff growing at home…
#51 by belmont, yo on May 4, 2010 - 4:46 pm
@ 50 I figured out why my I’ve had a numb tongue and sore throat for the last week
See now, based on our past discussions, what this phrase does is set one up for, oh I dont know, 30-40 juvenile one liners. I am refraining, but I did not want it to go unnoticed.
This thread is now about gay charismatic preachers, creepy old men in vans and arugula. I did it for you Loki.
#52 by Donk on May 4, 2010 - 5:11 pm
I think that Loki was just trying to keep things polite in respect to all of those that may be involved.
Remember that you all have a voice here, but we won’t hesitate to take that shit away if it is so deserved. No one crossed the line today, but this may be construed as a warning/policy.
@thread
I’m glad I missed this one. It was getting a little trollish, and I might’ve locked it down before it came around. Thankfully, some good discussion came out of it, and it even turned kinda intellectual towards the end there. Good job folks, the ritalin in your drinking water is working.
#53 by Donk on May 4, 2010 - 9:02 pm
@52
vry srs bsnss.
Between work and working out is a bad time to catch me. But for serious, if anyone says something in really bad taste around here; don’t get upset if it gets deleted.
/saké, ftw
#54 by brewer998 on May 5, 2010 - 8:54 am
@52 – I think maybe the tag line on this site needs to be changed, because this isn’t the first time the Thought Police have gotten touchy.
My suggestion? If you’re gonna be so sensitive, don’t post articles that might provoke discussion on a topic like murder. Just a thought…
#55 by Donk on May 5, 2010 - 9:19 am
@54
It’s a news bulletin on a local blog. Get over it.
#56 by belmont, yo on May 5, 2010 - 9:28 am
Can we all just let this topic slowly sink down in the recent comments list, have a juicebox, a hug and maybe a couple rounds of kumbaya? Maybe?
#57 by brewer998 on May 5, 2010 - 9:46 am
@55 – Haha. Yeah, I need to get over it. Hahaha. Whew!
#58 by shenanigans on May 5, 2010 - 10:29 am
Deleting comments is a step towards total douchebagginess.