Purdue News

August 5, 2001 Purdue helping student community deal with deaths WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University administrators are taking steps to help the student community deal with the murders of two South Korean sisters. Yeunkyung Woo, 31, and Hyo Kyung Woo, 29, were found dead Friday morning (8/3) at the Purdue Village, a campus apartment complex. The apartment belonged to Yeunkyung Woo, who was a doctoral student in biological sciences at Purdue. Hyo Kyung, from Chicago, was visiting her sister at the time of the deaths. Police believe the murders occurred sometime Thursday (8/2) evening. Today (Sunday, 8/5) approximately 1,262 students received their degrees during the West Lafayette campus summer commencement ceremony. The two deaths cast a shadow over the normally joyous occasion. Purdue President Martin C. Jischke asked those attending the ceremony to observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims. In order to answer questions and provide support for Purdue Village residents, two community meetings have been scheduled for Monday (8/6). The sessions are open only to residents of the 1,200-apartment complex. Representatives from the university's Office of International Students and Scholars, counseling and psychological services, Purdue Police Department, university residences and Purdue Village will be available to answer residents' questions. Officials also will make support resources available for those who need assistance in dealing with the tragedy. "The goal is to share any more information we might have and to provide references and resources for residents," said Christa Pazera, Purdue Village assistant manager. Michael Brzezinski, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, said every international student at Purdue has been informed of the deaths by e-mail. Students were encouraged to contact the office with any concerns or questions. There are more than 500 South Korean students and 47 non-immigrant faculty and staff from South Korea on the West Lafayette campus, he said. Joseph L. Bennett, Purdue's vice president for university relations, said autopsies were performed Saturday (8/4) at the Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. The autopsy results and cause of the deaths have not yet been released. Purdue Police Chief Linda Stump said both women were fully clothed and there were no signs of forced entry into the apartment. The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department, Lafayette Police Department, Indiana State Police and FBI are assisting with the investigation. Stump said police are seeking information about the women's whereabouts anytime after 5 p.m. Thursday (8/2). Anyone with information should contact the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221. Source: Joseph L. Bennett, (765) 427-1112, jlbennett@purdue.edu Writer: Sharon A. Bowker, (765) 494-9723, sbowker@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page