ATHENS, GA – A grim discovery was made on the University of Georgia Athens campus on Thursday. A young woman, a student from another institution, was found dead in a secluded woodland area after she failed to return from a run.
UGA’s Chief of Police, Jeffrey Clark, confirmed the victim’s student status, though he did not specify whether she was attending high school or college. Clark extended heartfelt condolences to those mourning the loss, acknowledging the sorrowful atmosphere enveloping the day.
The case came to light shortly after midday when a worried individual contacted the police. Their friend had gone for a morning run in the Intramural Fields and had not returned as anticipated. The authorities subsequently located the student around 12:30 p.m. in a forested area behind Lake Herrick. The student was found with visible injuries and was unresponsive and not breathing.
Emergency services attempted to revive the young woman, but she was pronounced dead upon arrival. The University has since released a statement suggesting that foul play may be involved in the incident. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Athens-Clarke County Police Department have been enlisted to assist in the investigation.
The public has been advised to steer clear of the intramural fields at UGA’s Athens campus while the investigation proceeds. However, Chief Clark has assured the community that there is no immediate threat on campus. Classes were suspended for the remainder of Thursday and all of Friday in response to the incident.
The UGA Police Department, in collaboration with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Athens Clarke-County Police Department, is spearheading the investigation into the tragic death. They are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact them at 706-542-2200.