Early Thursday morning, 19-year-old University of St. Thomas freshman fell to her death from the 10th floor of a Minnesota apartment complex where she was a guest at a Halloween party.
Though the circumstances of her death are still under investigation, The New York Post reports that Joia Simpson fell over two side-by-side railings. When the Minnesota Fire Department arrived at the complex at around 1 a.m., they found Simpson lying outside the apartment building and pronounced her dead at the scene.
As part of the ongoing investigation, detectives have already interviewed seven people who attended the Halloween party where the incident took place. According to KCR News, it has not been confirmed if drugs or alcohol contributed to Simpson’s death.
A Bayside, California native, Simpson recently moved to Minnesota to attend the University of St. Thomas, where she was interested in studying business. She was a graduate of Arcata High School.
A statement released by Simpson’s university said that her family “wants people to remember her beautiful smile.”
News of Simpson’s death comes at an already tragic time for the students and faculty at the University of St. Thomas. Less than two weeks ago, sophomore Katherine Mullen was found dead in her room.
While police don’t suspect foul play, these multiple fatalities have nonetheless rocked the mid-sized Roman Catholic college. University Chaplain Larry Blake revealed that the University was providing students with means of emotional support, such as grief counseling.
Blake told The Star Tribune that Joia Simpson’s family and friends “are devastated,” but suggested that the members of the St. Thomas community were helping each other through this difficult time.
“I am grateful we have such a supportive community here,” He said. “Students caring about one another, faculty and staff who care for the students, but also one another as colleagues.”