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Mother of slain teen Nicole Lovell expected to speak at news conference Slain teen Nicole Lovell was stabbed, prosecutors say
(about 1 hour later)
The mother of a slain 13-year-old Blacksburg, Va., girl is expected to speak at a 2 p.m. news conference that police have organized to give an update on the investigation into her death. BLACKSBURG, VA.— A preliminary investigation has concluded a 13-year-old Blacksburg, Va. girl was stabbed to death and she likely died on Jan. 27, the day she went missing from her home, a prosecutor said at a Tuesday news conference.
Tammy Weeks told an Associated Press reporter she would participate in the news conference in Blacksburg, but she did not indicate what new information would be released about Nicole Lovell’s case. Montgomery County Commonwealth’s Attorney Mary Petit also announced an additional count against one of the two Virginia Tech students charged in connection with the abduction and slaying of Nicole Lovell.
Two Virginia Tech students are facing charges related to the teen’s death and made initial court appearances on Monday. David Eisenhauer, 18, of Columbia, Md., allegedly abducted and killed Lovell. Authorities say Natalie Keepers, 19, of Laurel, Md., helped dispose of her body. Natalie Keepers, 19, of Laurel, Md. has also been charged with accessory before the fact to first-degree murder. She had previously been charged with concealing Lovell’s body and a misdemeanor accessory after the fact count.
An arrest warrant, revealed Monday, indicated that authorities do not believe Eisenhauer used a gun to kill Lovell. It also included a brief statement Eisenhauer had given to authorities: “I believe the truth can set me free.”
[Va. Tech student gives cryptic statement about killing][Va. Tech student gives cryptic statement about killing]
But many questions remain about the case. Police have not said how Lovell was killed, what happened after she disappeared from her home or revealed a motive for the slaying. They have not detailed exactly how Eisenhauer met Lovell or the nature of their relationship. Tammy Weeks, the mother of Nicole Lovell, also spoke at the press conference, holding a stuffed panda bear clutched to her chest. She spoke in a hushed tones about her daughter’s health struggles and love of pandas, but grew so emotional she was forced to stop.
A man finished her statement, saying: “Our hearts still ache in sadness.”
Blacksburg police chief Anthony Wilson said authorities had received around 400 tips from the public about the case. He said police would announce funeral arrangements for Lovell later on Tuesday afternoon.
The press conference provided a few new details, but still left many basic questions about the case unanswered. Authorities refused to take any questions from the media following their statements.
Police have not said what happened to Lovell after she disappeared from her home on Wednesday or revealed a motive for the slaying. They have not detailed exactly how Eisenhauer met Lovell or the nature of their relationship.
Weeks spoke at length about her daughter, who she called “Coley.” Lovell had a liver transplant as an infant and “fought for her life,” finally coming home from the hospital after her first birthday.
“She tried to live a normal life,” Weeks said. But then Weeks said Lovell was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma and spent six months in a coma after developing acute respiratory distress syndrome.
“At this point, we almost lost her for the second time,” Weeks said.
Medical experts and physicians told Weeks that her daughter had a one percent chance of survival, but Weeks said “Coley once again beat the odds.”
Lovell loved pandas, music, dancing and dreamed of being on “American Idol” one day.
As she spoke, Weeks began to tremble. She placed her hand to her chest.
“Nicole touched many people through her short life,” Weeks said, before walking away from the podium, close to sobbing. “I can’t do it.”
A day earlier, the two Virginia Tech students facing charges related to the teen’s death made initial court appearances. David Eisenhauer, 18, of Columbia, Md., allegedly abducted and killed Lovell. Authorities say Keepers helped dispose of her body.
An arrest warrant, revealed Monday included a brief statement Eisenhauer had given to authorities: “I believe the truth can set me free.”
Weeks said police told her Eisenhauer and Lovell met online, and that Eisenhauer used his relationship with Lovell to abduct and kill her.Weeks said police told her Eisenhauer and Lovell met online, and that Eisenhauer used his relationship with Lovell to abduct and kill her.
Lovell went missing on Wednesday, after Weeks said she pushed a nightstand against her bedroom door and apparently climbed out a window that was found open. Her body was discovered on Saturday afternoon near the Virginia-North Carolina border.Lovell went missing on Wednesday, after Weeks said she pushed a nightstand against her bedroom door and apparently climbed out a window that was found open. Her body was discovered on Saturday afternoon near the Virginia-North Carolina border.
Eisenhauer was arrested early Saturday at his dorm at Virginia Tech and charged with abduction and first-degree murder. On Sunday, police arrested Keepers and charged her with felony counts related to helping dispose of Lovell’s body. Both were engineering students.Eisenhauer was arrested early Saturday at his dorm at Virginia Tech and charged with abduction and first-degree murder. On Sunday, police arrested Keepers and charged her with felony counts related to helping dispose of Lovell’s body. Both were engineering students.
[Second student charged in death of 13-year-old][Second student charged in death of 13-year-old]
Virginia State Police divers searched a pond on Sunday and Monday for evidence related to the case but declined to discuss what they were looking for.Virginia State Police divers searched a pond on Sunday and Monday for evidence related to the case but declined to discuss what they were looking for.
At the court hearing Monday, a judge set March 28 hearings for both defendants. Neither has entered a plea yet.At the court hearing Monday, a judge set March 28 hearings for both defendants. Neither has entered a plea yet.