Michigan College Student's Alleged Killer Tweeted About Regret Minutes Before Murder
Connor McCowan, 18, is accused of killing Andrew Singler, 23, in Michigan.
Feb. 27, 2013 — -- The funeral for a Michigan State University senior is being held today in Rochester, Mich., just days after the aspiring dentist was killed allegedly by someone he tweeted less than an hour before the attack.
On Saturday, Meridian Township Police responded to a call for help at 4:13 a.m. in reference to a "subject that received a life threatening injury," according to police.
"A roommate transported the victim to Sparrow Hospital where he was later pronounced dead," police said in a statement. Neither the police nor the prosecutor would comment on the specific circumstances surrounding the death.
The victim was Andrew Singler, 23, who was in his last semester at MSU. He was on track to graduate in the spring and continue on to dental school, according to his obituary.
On the same day, suspect Connor McCowan, 18, was arrested.
At 3:17 a.m. on Feb. 23, McCowan retweeted a tweet by another account called "MSUpartystories" that said, "This time of the night is when phone calls and texts are regretted in the morning." McCowan forwarded the tweet to Singler, but did not say why.
The two had communicated on Twitter in the past.
Meridian Township Sgt. Andrew McCready confirmed that Singler and McCowan knew each other.
When asked if police knew the nature of their relationship, McCready told ABCNews.com, "I do, but we're not releasing that right now."
He directed further questions to the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office, who has the case now.
"We don't discuss any of the facts about the case," Chief Assistant Prosecutor Lisa McCormick told ABCNews.com. "[McCowan] has the right to a fair trial."
McCormick said that McCowan has been charged with open murder, a Michigan charge that allows the prosecutor not to initially specify whether the final charge will be first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter.
McCowan's attorney was not immediately available for comment. McCowan's first court appearance is scheduled for March 5.
Singler's funeral was scheduled for today at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Rochester, Mich.
"He loved playing hockey and soccer as well as shooting, snowboarding, golf, boating and camping," Singler's obituary said. "He was a pure joy to be around with an infectious smile."
The obituary was originally published in the Oakland Press. Singler's family did not respond to request for comment.
