The University suffered a great loss Wednesday when Albemarle police found graduate student Alison Meloy dead in her townhouse on Commonwealth Road.
An individual who knew Meloy had informed police that she had not been at work in several days. Upon arriving at the residence, police found her body. They later discovered that her blue 1996 Nissan Sentra was missing.
According to a press release, police discovered Meloy's car within Albemarle County yesterday. They still are investigating her death as a homicide.
"We are continuing work talking with friends and acquaintances," Albemarle Police Lt. John Teixeira said.
Meloy was a teaching assistant for Government and Foreign Affairs Prof. Larry J. Sabato in his Introduction to American Politics class. She also worked as a researcher for the Sorensen Institute for political leadership.
Alison usually came in quite regularly to the Institute, graduate student Dale Lawton said. Meloy and Lawton, along with Government Prof. Paul Freedman were working on a project at the institute studying the 2000 Virginia senatorial race between former Sen. Charles S. Robb (D) and Sen. George Allen (R).
According to Lawton, Meloy had not been at work for several days prior to the discovery of her body.
But the nature of Meloy's and other graduate student work often leads to a more individual and solitary lifestyle, Sabato said. This may be one reason that her disappearance was not discovered earlier.
"It is not unusual for a graduate student to miss a class or two because of other academic commitments which often overlap," Sabato said.
Meloy's death comes as a shock to both the government department and the University community as a whole. She had become known for her intense enthusiasm in her area of expertise - anything political.
"Alison loved politics," Sorensen Executive Director William Wood said. "She used to have State of the Union parties."
Most recently, Meloy held a social event for President George W. Bush's first address.
"She was a wonderful and intelligent person who will be missed," graduate student Kathleen Grammatico said.
The government department already has begun to set up counseling services for both undergraduate and graduate students. A counselor will be present in all classes for which Meloy was a TA. Student Health Counseling and Psychological services also can be reached at (804) 243-5150.
A memorial service will be planned but due to circumstances of the investigation "a lot is still up in the air," Government department Chairman Jeffrey Legro said.
There has been only one occasion in the University's history in which a member of the community has been murdered. In 1840, Prof. John Davis was murdered on the Lawn, prompting the creation of the University honor system.
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