Weiser, a dance and theater student, had left the school’s drama building at around 10 p.m. on Sunday and was headed home, but she never made it.
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Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the death of a student at the University of Texas at Austin. Police announced today a homeless teen has been charged in her murder.
Acevedo said Criner was apprehended thanks to tips from the community, including the local fire department, who recognized the suspect from campus surveillance video.
Weiser worked in the wardrobe crew for Friday’s production, Bodies & Souls. He returned to the van at 9:38 p.m., the affidavit said. The man returned to the van eight minutes later, around the same time a woman looking at her cell phone can be seen walking towards the alumni center.
Travis County Judge Brenda Kennedy signed an arrest affidavit Friday that says “there is sufficient probable cause to support the charge of murder” against Meechaiel Criner (mih-kah-EEL’ KRY’-nur). The case will be heard in adult court.
“We are very certain that the subject we have in custody [.] is the suspect responsible for the death of this attractive young woman”, Chief Acevedo said.
The family of an 18-year-old dance student whose body was found in a small stream on campus at the University of Texas at Austin last week is expressing relief after police confirmed an arrest in the case. An autopsy noted trauma to the body and the death was termed a homicide.
“They say CPS is supposed to be a good place, but it’s not”, the newspaper quoted Criner as saying. Assistant Austin Police Chief Troy Gay said there was no indication that the man in the video was a student or that he specifically targeted Weiser.
The chief says it’s too soon to understand a motive. On the video, a man was seen walking toward that location.
Criner wasn’t arrested for the fire but was instead taken to a shelter. Little details about how Haruka Weiser died have been released, but the coroner has highlighted that the student was viciously killed. The bicycle also was similar to one Weiser owned. In the ashes, they also found a singed notebook, the affidavit said.
After obtaining a search warrant on Thursday, police allegedly found some of the victim’s belongings, including a computer, in the teen’s room at the shelter.
“We try to offer these services for the community in need and consider ourselves a sanctuary for the challenges they face”, he said. The victim’s family told police she had a Portland, Oregon, sticker on her Mac.
Fenves said increased police patrols on campus, which have included state troopers in cars, on bikes and on horseback, would continue for the time being. “But also please tell them to take care of themselves and go home and hug your children, not once but twice”.
Weiser’s parents could not be reached for comment Saturday but said in a statement a day earlier that they “remain steadfast in our desire to honor Haruka’s memory through kindness and love”. “We will take this as an occasion to do as Haruka’s parents asked us to do, learn from this and make this a better community and a safer community for everyone”.
There had not been a homicide on campus since 1966, according to Acevedo.
In response to this week’s slaying, the university has expanded programs in which police escort students across campus to ensure their safety.
Weiser, a dance major, had planned to declare a second major in pre-med studies, her family said.
And her sister added: ‘Whatever has happened is very shocking.
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“This story is really tragic and the loss of life grieves me”, Howard said, “But to me, it’s not a story about homelessness …”
