Students were stunned last night as they reacted to the reported murder of Curry School Graduate student, Elizabeth Hafter. Last night a man believed to be William Ashby, who was last seen driving Hafter's car, was killed in a shootout with police officers in St. Augustine, Fla.
Some students held a vigil for Hafter outside of the University Chapel last night in response to reports from NBC29 News that family members told a South Carolina NBC affiliate station that Hafter had been murdered. As of press time The Cavalier Daily could not officially confirm that report.
A car with South Carolina plates which matched the description of Hafter's car was seen off Interstate 95 near Flagler County, Fla., said Sgt. Chuck Mulligan of the St. John's County Sheriff's Department. Authorities were looking for the car and Ashby in connection with homicides in both Georgia and Virginia.
The manhunt for Ashby in Virginia began when authorities found a dead body Sunday afternoon in Augusta County, Va. off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The body was discovered near an abandoned vehicle allegedly stolen by Ashby, who had outstanding warrants for his arrest stemming from the shooting of a convenience store clerk in Georgia. Authorities have not yet confirmed any connection between Hafter and the body.
According to a wall posting on Facebook by Hafter's sister, Stephanie, yesterday afternoon Elizabeth had already been missing for three days. The Charlottesville Police Department and Augusta County Sheriff's Office would not divulge any information in regards to the case, directing all inquiries to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which did not return repeated calls for comment.
Friends of Hafter commented on the bizarre nature of Hafter's disappearance, and expressed their shock at the reports of her death.
"You never know how something like this happens to somebody," said Jen Krondron, who lived with Hafter their first and second year as undergraduates at the University.
"It would not be like Lizzie to go off by herself," said Tracey Grimm, another friend of Hafter's. Grimm added that Hafter was one of the most responsible people she had known, and that it surprised her that Hafter would be alone on the Blue Ridge trails.
"She wasn't really an impulsive person," Kondron agreed.
According to both Krondron and Grimm, Hafter was a quiet, studious person who kept a very close-knit group of friends and who was very close to her family.
--Andy Mullen and Alex Sellinger contributed to this article.
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