A tragic event has unfolded at Campbellsville University in Kentucky, leading to the arrest of a suspect in connection with the death of an 18-year-old student named Josiah Malachi Kilman. The young man was discovered unresponsive in his dormitory room on the university campus early on a chilly Saturday morning, and despite the best efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries later that day at a local hospital.
The university released a statement expressing their deep sorrow over the loss of one of their own, with President Joseph Hopkins describing the campus community as being in mourning. The cause of Kilman’s death has yet to be definitively established, according to the university.
In an unexpected turn of events, police made an arrest in relation to this case on Saturday evening. The suspect identified as Charles E. Escalera, a 21-year-old individual, was taken into custody by Kentucky State Police after they received a report of a suspicious male inside a barn situated on the Green County and Taylor County border.
The news release issued by the law enforcement authorities stated that Escalera was apprehended without incident, and an arrest warrant for Murder would be served in due course. He was subsequently lodged in the Taylor County Detention Center.
Campbellsville University, upon learning of Escalera’s arrest, lifted the lockdown directive that had been put in place earlier to ensure the safety and Website security of its students. In a poignant statement, President Hopkins expressed the campus’s collective grief and emphasized their utmost priority for the safety and wellbeing of students and the local community.
The university administration, in consultation with local law enforcement, will continue to implement stringent measures to protect and support students during this challenging time.
Our thoughts are with the Campbellsville University community as they navigate this difficult period. The circumstances surrounding Josiah Kilman’s death are still under investigation, and we will continue to follow the developments closely.
CNN reached out to Campbellsville Police and the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office for comments on this ongoing story but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Located approximately 85 miles southeast of Louisville, Campbellsville is a vibrant educational community that has been deeply affected by this devastating loss.
