A nursing student was found dead on the adjacent Georgia State campus Thursday morning after a friend told police she hadn’t returned from her morning run, police said.
The unidentified woman was found unresponsive with “visible injuries” in a wooded area behind a lake at the University of Georgia.
In a statement, the university said, “We suspect foul play.”
Officials did not release the victim’s identity or cause of death, but confirmed that she did not attend UGA.
The woman was a student at Augusta University’s College of Nursing campus in Athens, less than four miles from where her body was discovered.
The woman told a friend that she had intended to go to UGA’s intramural field early in the morning, but when she did not return, the friend called police shortly after noon.
Her body was found on the back side of Herrick Lake. The area is located across a busy road from a large dormitory and dining complex commonly referred to as “East Campus.” Most of the students in those dorms are freshmen.
UGA Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark said in a press conference that there are no suspects in the case, but police do not believe there is any immediate danger on campus.
“There is always danger when a suspect is at large. However, there is no immediate danger at this time.”
This shocking death is the second on UGA’s campus in 24 hours.
Another student was found dead in a dorm room Wednesday but was unrelated to the nursing student’s death, authorities said, but did not provide further details about the first student.
“And as we continue to mourn that tragic loss of life, today’s shocking news will test the resolve of our campus community, especially our students, like no other. Deaf,” UGA said in a statement.
UGA and Augusta University’s School of Nursing canceled classes for Friday.
UGA urged students to avoid traveling in groups and avoid school intramurals as the investigation continues.
If the woman’s death is ruled a homicide, it would be the first such incident at UGA in 20 years.
