Woman found dead at UTPA identified
UPDATE 10:30 a.m.
EDINBURG — Campus police identified the woman found dead at the University of Texas Pan American as an 18-year-old Edinburg school student Tuesday morning.
University officials did not release her identity in a news release posted on their website at 10 a.m.
Edinburg school officials, however, identified her as Edinburg North Junior Brenda Dominguez, 18.
Dominguez joined the district in August after moving from Iowa.
Her grandmother reported her missing about 3 p.m. Monday after Dominguez walked out of her home about 9 p.m. Sunday, a source close to the investigation said.
Dominguez told her grandmother she was going to go out for a walk and didn’t return, the source said.
Campus police learned her identity yesterday evening when a relative of Dominguez contacted UTPA police headquarters, the university release stated. Police later confirmed her identity and have officially notified her family and Edinburg CISD administrators.
“The UTPA community sends its condolences to the family and the school district,” the release states. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this time of tragedy.”
Counseling services will also be available for all students, faculty and staff at the university.
UPDATE 9 a.m.
EDINBURG — The Science Building at the University of Texas Pan American will remain closed for the rest of the day Tuesday following the suspicious death of a woman Monday morning.
University officials made the announcement via their website, www.utpa.edu, at 9 a.m.
Authorities have yet to disclose details about the death that occurred near an external staircase adjacent to the Science Building sometime before 8 a.m. Monday.
Campus police, along with Edinburg officers and Texas Rangers, had not identified the woman, believed to be in her 20s, as of press time Monday. She was not carrying identifying information.
Investigators waited for autopsy results expected late Monday or early Tuesday, school officials said.
Authorities will expect to release more information at 10 a.m.
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Naxiely Lopez covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at naxil@themonitor.com and (956)683-4434.
