An autopsy showed Weiser was assaulted, but authorities have not shared details of how she died.
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His sister says their mother was a drug addict and committed suicide which sent Criner to live with his grandmother in Texarkana until fifth grade.
Criner has been charged with first-degree murder. Police said Criner was homeless and was arrested at LifeWorks, an Austin nonprofit that helps the homeless.
Weiser was last seen leaving the campus drama building Sunday night. The Department of Public Safety also is conducting a security review on campus.
Police said Criner was linked to the killing by a surveillance video released on Thursday.
Weiser left the drama building on Sunday night, likely headed for her dormitory, but never made it there, police said.
The pair later dropped from view.
Early Friday morning police arrested 17-year-old Meechaiel Criner in connection with Weiser’s death. During the search, the body of a young woman with “obvious trauma” was found in [Waller] creek behind the UT Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. Firefighters took his bicycle – which matched the one on the surveillance video – for safekeeping. He was then transported to a shelter, but later, firefighters recognized Criner in the police’s surveillance video.
The lives of 18-year-old University of Texas student Haruka Weiser and the teenage suspect in her killing differed dramatically.
“The individual on that video they were seeing strongly resembled the suspect we were looking for”, Chief Acevedo said.
He says investigators are certain that the suspect in custody is responsible for Weiser’s death.
The backlash against North Carolina’s law banning anti-discrimination ordinances kept going unabated Friday, as Bruce Springsteen announced that he was canceling a weekend show in the state in solidarity with those protesting the bill.
Additionally, the local resident who had reported the fire also notified the police as to the possible identity of the suspect after she watched the surveillance video released by the authorities, according to Chief Acevedo.
“We will honor Haruka’s life and what she stood for”, Fenves said. Her body was found in a creek on Tuesday.
“Obviously in this particular case we did not catch this young man, or identify him prior to this we recognize that. I met her first two years ago as a junior in high school and saw her dance before I ever talked to her”, Charles Anderson, head of the UT dance department said.
For nearly 25 years, the University United Methodist Church near the University of Texas has provided homeless people with a hot meal on Saturday mornings through its Open Door Ministry.
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Following the gathering, the UT Austin Tower darkened in remembrance of Weiser. University president Greg Fenves called Weiser’s murder “incomprehensible”. Criner was not seen on camera until around 11:45 p.m., when he was walking eastbound along 23rd Street “with a slight limp” and carrying a second bag. It is not clear how police may have linked the teen to the fire. Along with other evidence recovered from the locker in room 9, they found a MacBook with a sticker mentioning the city of Portland the affidavit said. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.
