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Posted on Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 9:44 a.m.

Funeral today for EMU student Julia Niswender as police continue to investigate death

By Katrease Stafford

A funeral service is scheduled for this morning for Julia Niswender as police continue to investigate the the death the Eastern Michigan University student last week.

julianiswenderphoto.jpg

Julia Niswender

Photo from Facebook

Niswender's funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Redeemer Fellowship Church at 5305 Evergreen Dr., in Monroe. Burial will follow at Erie Union Cemetery.

Niswender, 23, and a junior at Eastern Michigan University, was found dead in her apartment about 9:30 p.m. last Tuesday in Peninsular Place apartments. The apartments are located in the 1000 block of Huron River Drive, across the street from the campus in Ypsilanti. Police were dispatched to the address to conduct a welfare check of Julia after family and friends had not heard from her in a couple of days.

Police have said they are investigating Niswender's death as an apparent homicide and are continuing to investigate, after preliminary autopsy results didn't provide investigators many more clues.

The autopsy report from the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner lists the cause of death as "pending," according to a release from Ypsilanti police. A toxicology report, which will take two to three weeks to complete, may reveal more information as to how the Eastern Michigan University student died, a police release said.

"There were no outward signs of trauma to the body; however, there are indicators of possible foul play," the release said.

Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.

Comments

BhavanaJagat

Thu, Dec 20, 2012 : 5:10 a.m.

POLICE INVESTIGATION OF UNNATURAL DEATH: I may have to state that the police investigation of unnatural death events is a common practice in all countries apart from the United States. If I were to conduct an autopsy examination, the investigator would ask me to give the time of death as it is a critical piece of information that would further lead to more clues. There are several ways to know the approximate time of death; for example, examination of stomach contents would reveal the nature of meal consumed before death, and the approximate time when it was consumed. If a death had been confirmed, it is very reasonable to ask for the time of death and by sharing such basic information the public would get a chance to know that the Police have the information to conduct an inquiry in the matter of that unnatural death event.

15crown00

Wed, Dec 19, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.

It was an absolute tragedy.let's put the investigation in high gear and get the problem solved so at lest the family can have some amount of closure.EVIL struck here.let's solve it before he,she,or them can strike again.

BhavanaJagat

Tue, Dec 18, 2012 : 5:32 p.m.

Investigation of Death: To investigate the death of any person, the investigator must know the time of death. Her dead body was discovered inside her room in the apartment building where she had lived. This time of discovery will not indicate the time of death. To proceed with the investigation, the first task would be that of knowing the precise time of death. If a death certificate was issued, it must state the date of death apart from the probable cause of death or an underlying condition that may have contributed to the death. I read all the news stories and I am still not able to know as to when she was last seen while she was alive???

15crown00

Wed, Dec 19, 2012 : 1:02 p.m.

only in Ann Arbor would you argue finite points like this.