Yale Lab Killing Was Not at Random, Police Say

Connecticut State Police and the FBI investigate the CRRA Waste Processing Facility in Hartford,...

Connecticut State Police and the FBI investigate the CRRA Waste Processing Facility in Hartford, Conn., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009. The FBI is searching the facility for evidence in the disappearance of Yale graduate student Annie Le. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

(AP)

The Yale graduate student presumed to have been killed in her lab building and stuffed into a wall there was probably not the victim of a random act, police said Monday as they sought to ease fears about student safety.

Police found the body around 5 p.m. Sunday, on what was to have been 24-year-old Annie Le's wedding day. She was reported missing Tuesday, and her ID, money, credit cards and purse were found in her third-floor office at the high-security Yale medical school building where the body was found.

An autopsy was under way Monday to verify the identity of the body, found in the wall chase — an recess where utilities and cables are run. Police would not say Monday whether they have a suspect, but said nobody is in custody.

"We're not believing it's a random act," said Officer Joe Avery, a police spokesman. He would not provide further details but said no one else is in danger.

The building where the body was found is part of the university medical school complex about a mile from Yale's main campus and is accessible to Yale personnel with identification cards. Some 75 video surveillance cameras monitor all doorways.

"It's a frightening idea that there's a murderer walking around on campus," said 20-year-old Muneeb Sultan, a chemistry student. "I'm shocked that it happened in a Yale building that had key-card access. It's really sad."

Police have not provided any details on the condition of the body found or how the woman died.

Yale closed the building Monday so police could complete their investigation, according to a message sent to Yale students and staff. Scientists are being allowed in only to conduct essential research projects, and only under the supervision of a police officer.

When the building reopens, there will be extra security both inside and outside, said Linda Lorimer, Yale secretary and vice president.

A friend said Monday that Le never showed signs of worry about her own personal safety at work, although she did express concerns about crime in New Haven in an article she wrote last year.