Jessica Michelle Ewing, a 22-year-old Virginia Tech Student and Keifer Kyle Brown, a 23-year-old graduate, have been arrested and charged in the murder of a fellow student.
Samanata Shrestha, a 21-year-old Virginia Tech student was brutally murdered Saturday in the Blacksburg area. The senior from Northern Virginia, Vienna, attended James Madison High School. Shrestha aspired to enrol at a medical school.
Ewing is charged with second-degree murder, while Brown is charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly helping Ewing in concealing the body. Currently, both suspects are being held without bond at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
Police officials have not yet determined the possible motive of the shooting death and the nature of the relationships among the three.
"We have no idea what is the motive," said a family friend, Ram C. Kharel, Washington Post reports.
The police initiated a hunt for Shrestha Sunday after her parents reported her missing. Her parents last heard from their daughter Friday. The officials said that the murder took place after 7:00 a.m. Saturday, the day her parents filed the complaint.
During the investigation, the officials discovered a black 2004 Mercedes Monday, they believe might be related to the incident.
Shrestha from Fairfax County was biology major with minors in medicine and society and in psychology.
"That an inspiring young woman would lose her life to violent crime hurts beyond belief," Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said in a statement. "We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and will assist in any way possible. No amount of words can counteract their grief."
"We know such crime should not happen in a special place like Blacksburg, yet we also know from our own history and that of similar towns throughout our nation that crime can visit even the most placid communities."
Jack Evans, Shrestha's academic adviser, described as a pleasant young lady who displayed yearning for learning. She was "like a wet sponge and just gobbled it all up."
