Virginia Tech student arrested in death of missing 13-year-old

Associated Press

BLACKSBURG, Va.

Two Virginia Tech engineering students have been arrested in connection with the death of a 13-year-old girl whose disappearance last week from her Virginia home set off a frantic, four-day search.

Blacksburg Police say David Eisenhauer, 18, was arrested Saturday and charged with first-degree murder and abduction in the death of Nicole Madison Lovell, who disappeared from her home Wednesday. Natalie Keepers, of Laurel, Maryland, was arrested Sunday and faces charges of improper disposal of a body and accessory after the fact in the commission of a felony.

Both are being held without bond at the Montgomery County Jail.

“Based on the evidence collected to date, investigators have determined that Eisenhauer and Nicole were acquainted prior to her disappearance. Eisenhauer used this relationship to his advantage to abduct the 13-year-old and then kill her. Keepers helped Eisenhauer dispose of Nicole’s body,” Blacksburg police said in a statement.

Virginia State Police located Lovell’s remains Saturday afternoon in Surry County, North Carolina, just over the Virginia border. Hours later, police announced the arrest of Eisenhauer, a freshman from Columbia, Maryland.

State police spokeswoman Corrine Geller said Sunday that a search and recovery team is combing a pond on the Virginia Tech Campus. She would not say what officials are trying to find.

The Roanoke Times newspaper quoted to Blacksburg Police Chief Anthony Wilson as saying that Eisenhauer has not confessed to involvement in Lovell’s death and did not give police information that led to the discovery of her body.

Police initially charged Eisenhauer with abduction; he was charged with murder once the girl’s remains were found.

The girl had been missing since last week. Her family says she disappeared after pushing a dresser in front of her bedroom door and climbing out a window. Lovell’s family members did not immediately return messages seeking comment Sunday.