The parents of a University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) student, who reportedly experienced a brutal attack involving rape and strangulation near the campus, are urgently requesting external assistance in the investigation as the suspect is already deceased.
The family, represented by their attorney, is urging university officials to involve the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department in the case, which has left the UCSB community deeply unsettled.
“We’re asking the Chancellor to have the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department help in finding this individual,” stated family lawyer Tyrone Maho during an interview with local media.
Maho expressed confidence that university police are taking the situation seriously but suggested it’s time to involve an agency with a broader reach and more resources.
“I believe they want to solve this, but we need extra help,” he remarked, highlighting the capabilities of a larger department.
This appeal for help comes in the wake of an incident reported on May 10, around 10 p.m., in which a UCSB student was allegedly assaulted on campus grounds.
Earlier reports indicated that the victim and the suspect met at a party that night in Isla Vista, a neighboring student district, but were unfamiliar with each other beforehand.
The family’s private investigator, Michael Claytor, is urging any potential witnesses to come forward, regardless of how insignificant they think their information might be.
“Just mentioning anything you saw could assist in piecing things together,” Claytor noted, encouraging people to share what they can without worrying about being called to testify.
The University of California Police Department defended its approach to the investigation, pointing out that legal restrictions limit what can be publicly shared about the case.
“We can’t disclose all incident details due to federal law and university policies, but strong resources are available on campus for survivors of sexual assault,” the department stated.
They also emphasized that incidents on campus are thoroughly investigated by sworn officers and that the department is accredited by relevant authorities.
The suspect’s identity has not been disclosed, further intensifying students’ anxiety as they grapple with the alarming nature of the crime.
Student Adora Mina shared her mixed feelings about the situation, mentioning that while she feels secure in the dorms, there’s an unsettling atmosphere when out with friends in Isla Vista.
“I checked my emails after hearing about the incident, but I noticed there wasn’t additional information on the suspect,” she commented.
University officials have stated they are collaborating with the Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office as necessary and affirmed that the situation is actively under investigation.
A university police spokesperson mentioned that they have communicated with the victim’s family “from the earliest stages of the investigation,” maintaining contact with the attorneys during various stages.
This incident has reignited campus safety discussions at UCSB, which has recently been labeled the most politically polarized college in the U.S. Concerns about rising incidents of sexual assault and related violence have also been noted in the campus newspaper.
As authorities encourage anyone with information about the attack to reach out, the community remains on edge, haunted by the recent traumatic event.
