Va. lacrosse player's killing shocks classmates

[Dirty]

By HANK KURZ JR.

The Associated Press
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Yeardley Love was entering the best time of her life.


In this handout provided by Media Relations University of Virginia, shows YYeardley Love in this undated photo. Police have arrested 22-year-old George Huguely of Chevy Chase, Md. and have charged him with first-degree murder of Love. Police Chief Tim Longo said during a news conference that 22-year-old Yeardley Love's body was found early Monday, May 3, 2010 in her Charlottesville apartment by a roommate. Longo says police were originally responding to a possible alcohol overdose, but quickly discovered it was something worse. (AP Photo/Media Relations University of Virginia)


Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage speaks during a news conference Monday, May 3, 2010, in Charlottesville, Va., about the death of Virginia women's lacrosse player, Yeardley Love, 22, of Cockeysville, Md. George Huguely, 22, of Chevy Chase, Md., has been charged with first-degree murder in Love's death, Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo said. Both player were seniors. (AP Photo/The Daily Progress, Andrew Shurtleff)


In this handout provided by Media Relations University of Virginia, shows George Huguely in this undated photo. Police have arrested 22-year-old George Huguely of Chevy Chase, Md. and have charged him with first-degree murder of Yeardley Love. Police Chief Tim Longo said during a news conference that 22-year-old Yeardley Love's body was found early Monday, May 3, 2010 in her Charlottesville apartment by a roommate. Longo says police were originally responding to a possible alcohol overdose, but quickly discovered it was something worse. (AP Photo/Media Relations University of Virginia)

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The woman from Cockeysville, Md., who said she always dreamed of playing lacrosse at Virginia, was only weeks from earning a degree and she and her teammates were expecting to end their season by winning a national championship.
It ended Monday morning when Love was found dead in her apartment.
Hours later, police took George Huguely, a senior on the Cavaliers men's lacrosse team, into custody, charging him with first-degree murder. They gave no details of how the 22-year-old died, or why, but said the two had been in a relationship at some point.
Huguely, also 22, of Chevy Chase, Md., emerged quickly as the prime suspect in the case, Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo said, but did not say why.
Huguely was being held in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.
Love's body was to be taken to Richmond for an autopsy, Longo said.
Love's roommate called police around 2:15 a.m. concerned that Love may have had an alcohol overdose, Longo said, but police found her dead with obvious physical injuries.
He said he did not believe any weapons were used in the killing.
Speaking on three television networks Tuesday morning, Longo declined to give many details in the case, citing the ongoing investigation. Longo did say investigators planned to interview teammates and friends about the nature of the relationship between Love and Huguely.
As the news trickled throughout campus, a steady stream of students preparing for finals later in the week wandered down the apartment-lined street where Love's body was found. Drivers slowed down and pointed as they approached the building.
Suggestions it may have been a domestic situation did little to ease concerns.
"Just to hear that anybody in the U.Va. community could be suspected of that, regardless of the relationship, does give you a sense of unease," said Drew Cook, 22, of Burke, said.
Kyle Cecil, 22, of Newport News, said he lived on the same hall as Huguely as freshman, and knew him well enough to say hello. He was shocked to see police cars at the building on his way to class, and more shocked when he learned of Huguely's arrest on a murder charge.
Leonard Sandridge, executive vice president of the university, told reporters the campus was saddened, and that the pain is magnified because the accused is "one of our own."
The lacrosse teams met at least once during the day, but lacrosse players and school officials declined repeatedly to comment during the day, referring to a school statement.
The men's and women's lacrosse seasons — both teams are national title contenders — were "not even entering into our thoughts," athletic director Craig Littlepage said.
The NCAA tournament pairings are to be announced Sunday, and the men's team is expected to host a first-round game, and the women's team is also anticipating being included.
Huguely, a midfielder, wasn't a starter but played in all 15 games this season. He had four goals and three assists. Love played defense and started in three games this season.
Love was "described as an angel by teammates and friends," Littlepage said.
She played varsity lacrosse and field hockey for four years at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Baltimore, and was recalled as an outstanding and wonderful person , said Sister Patricia McCarron, headmistress of the school.
"Yeardley was the core of the personality of the team. She was our laughter, a good soul. She always found an appropriate way to lighten things up," said Mary Bartel, who coached lacrosse at Notre Dame Prep. "I don't think there is a soul in this building who couldn't say her name without smiling. Yeardley loved NDP, and NDP loved her. She was a good soul and an outstanding athlete."
University president John Casteen said in a release on the university's website that Love "deserved the bright future she earned growing up, studying here, and developing her talents as a lacrosse player," he said. "She deserves to be remembered for her human goodness, her capacity for future greatness, and for the terrible way in which her young life has ended."
Huguely attended the Landon School, a private school in Bethesda, Md. It is the same prep school that at least one of the Duke lacrosse players accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a team party in 2006 attended. The charges later were dismissed.
Huguely played both varsity lacrosse and varsity football, and was co-captain of the lacrosse team in his senior year, school spokeswoman Jean Erstlin said.
She said the school had no comment on his arrest.




Va. lacrosse player's killing shocks classmates *| ajc.com

[Dirty]

Affidavit: Huguely hit victim repeatedly





CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- A Virginia lacrosse player suspected of killing a member of the women's team told police he shook her and hit her head repeatedly against a wall, according to a court document in the case.
An affidavit filed with a search warrant said police found Yeardley Love, 22, face down in her bedroom early Monday with a pool of blood on her pillow, a large bruise on her face and one eye swollen shut. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the suspect, George Huguely, told them he had an altercation with Love and had kicked in her bedroom door.

Huguely

Love
"Huguely stated that he and Love had been in a relationship and that the relationship had ended," the document said.
He also told police that he had communicated with Love by e-mail and had taken her computer. The affidavit said he told police where to find the computer and it was recovered.
Huguely, 22 and a senior at the school, was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree murder.
Huguely is being held in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail until he is back in court on June 10.
Earlier Tuesday, his lawyer, Francis Lawrence, said he was confident the death was not intentional.
"We are confident that Ms. Love's death was not intended, but an accident with a tragic outcome," Lawrence told reporters. He did not elaborate and said he would have no further comment.
Huguely, of Chevy Chase, Md., appeared by videoconference Tuesday at a court hearing, wearing a gray-striped jail uniform. He did not speak during the proceeding between his lawyers and the judge. There was no discussion of bond for him.
Huguely's parents and stepfather were in the courtroom. They left the courthouse through a back entrance without talking to reporters.
Love's roommate called police around 2:15 a.m. after finding Love face down on her pillow and unresponsive, the affidavit said.
Love, of Cockeysville, Md., was only weeks from earning a degree and she and her teammates were expecting to end their season by winning a national championship.
Leonard Sandridge, executive vice president of the university, told reporters the campus was saddened, and that the pain is magnified because the accused is "one of our own."
Kyle Cecil, 22, of Newport News, said he lived on the same hall as Huguely as a freshman, and knew him well enough to say hello. He was shocked to see police cars at the building on his way to class, and more shocked when he learned of Huguely's arrest.
The lacrosse teams met at least once during the day, but lacrosse players and school officials declined repeatedly to comment, referring to a school statement.
The men's and women's lacrosse seasons -- both teams are national title contenders -- were "not even entering into our thoughts," athletic director Craig Littlepage said.
The NCAA tournament pairings are to be announced Sunday, and the men's team is expected to host a first-round game, and the women's team is also expecting to be included.
Huguely, a midfielder, wasn't a starter but played in all 15 games this season. He had four goals and three assists. Love played defense and started in three games this season.
Love was "described as an angel by teammates and friends," Littlepage said.
She played varsity lacrosse and field hockey for four years at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Baltimore.
"Yeardley was the core of the personality of the team. She was our laughter, a good soul," said Mary Bartel, who coached lacrosse at the prep school.
University president John Casteen said in a release on the university's website that Love "deserved the bright future she earned growing up, studying here, and developing her talents as a lacrosse player," he said. "She deserves to be remembered for her human goodness, her capacity for future greatness, and not for the terrible way in which her young life has ended."
Huguely attended the Landon School, a private school in Bethesda, Md.
According to police documents, Huguely has a prior criminal record.
In Rockbridge County, on Nov. 15, 2008, Huguely was arrested on two misdemeanor charges: resisting arrest and public swearing/intoxication. He was found guilty on Jan. 20, 2009, and received six months probation and 50 hours of community service, as well as a $100 fine and about $80 in court costs.
ESPN reporter Bob Holtzman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.




Virginia Cavaliers lacrosse player George Huguely to be held until June hearing on murder charge in women's lacrosse player's death - ESPN

[The Devil]

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Describing a scene of violent rage, the Virginia lacrosse player accused of killing a member of the women's team told police he kicked in her bedroom door, shook her, and her head repeatedly hit the wall, according to a court document.

The suspect, 22-year-old George Huguely, of Chevy Chase, Md., has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Yeardley Love, also 22.

Huguely was not present at a court hearing Tuesday, but he appeared via videoconference from Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, wearing a gray-striped uniform. Afterward, his lawyer, Francis Lawrence, told reporters that Love's "death was not intended, but an accident with a tragic outcome."



Huguely

Love

Huguely is being held in jail until he is back in court on June 10.

Lawrence said Huguely withdrew from the university. Huguely and Love were both seniors.

Late Tuesday night, Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage announced that both lacrosse teams will participate in the NCAA tournament.

"A part of their healing will be getting our students back into some of their routines. In the case of the women's and men's programs, our lacrosse teams will honor Yeardley by continuing their seasons," Littlepage said in a statement. "We anticipate both teams will be selected for the NCAA tournaments and they will represent the University of Virginia as they always have."

An affidavit for a search warrant said two people found Love, of Cockeysville, Md., face down in her bedroom early Monday morning, with a pool of blood on her pillow. There was a large bruise on her face and one eye was swollen shut, police said, and she was pronounced dead at the scene after attempts to revive her.

According to the document, Huguely -- listed in the Virginia men's lacrosse media guide as 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds -- told police "he was involved in an altercation with Yeardley Love and that during the course of the altercation he shook Love and her head repeatedly hit the wall."

Huguely told police the two had been in a relationship "and that the relationship had ended," according to the affidavit. Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo said investigators are looking into whether Huguely had threatened Love in the past.

"That's what we're trying to get to precisely, through our interviews with friends, family and teammates -- to see to what extent there's truth to that," Longo said.

Longo said there were no past police reports "of prior incidents; there's no protective orders or restraining orders."

Police in Lexington, Va. -- about 70 miles from Charlottesville -- said that in November 2008, Huguely was shocked with a stun gun by an officer there after resisting arrest for public intoxication. He pleaded guilty to two charges last year, was placed on six months' probation and was given a 60-day sentence, which was suspended.

The arresting officer, R.L. Moss, said in a statement Tuesday that she felt it necessary to use a stun gun because Huguely became abusive and his size was no match for her. She said in the statement that Huguely was "yelling obscenities and making threats."

According to the affidavit released in Charlottesville on Tuesday, Huguely waived his right to have an attorney present while he gave his chilling account of what happened at Love's apartment. Huguely told police he communicated with Love by e-mail and took her computer and disposed of it. He also told them where they could find it; Longo said investigators have the computer and are "in the process of trying to see what evidentiary value may exist."

An autopsy on Love was concluded in Richmond, and Longo said investigators passed along to him "pieces" of information, but he would not release details until he has the full, official report from the medical examiner.

Medical student Cliff Cutchins, who lives in the apartment building beside Huguely's, said he didn't know the suspect but had met Love and knew many of her friends.

Some of his friends who were close to Love left town for a few days, said Cutchins, of Virginia Beach.

Even with the details released Tuesday about Love's death, Cutchins said it is hard to believe that her relationship with Huguely could have been abusive.

"No matter what kind of relationship they had, there were no indications that it could have gotten this bad," he said. "There's no way this community would have let that happen."

Huguely, a midfielder, wasn't a starter but played in all 15 games this season, with four goals and three assists. Love played defense and started three games this season.

Their senior year was wrapping up: Tuesday was the last day of classes for undergraduates, final exams are scheduled to start Thursday, and graduation is the last week of May.

Instead, there were signs of mourning Tuesday. A moment of silence was observed for Love before Virginia's home baseball game. Members of Love's high school lacrosse team -- Notre Dame Preparatory of Towson, Md. -- wrote her uniform number, No. 1, on their calves; put black tape on their sticks; and wore orange ribbons in their hair for their 17-9 victory Tuesday at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School in Alexandria.

Meanwhile, at Virginia's campus, two gates at the lacrosse practice field were chained while players worked out.

ESPN reporter Bob Holtzman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Dirty]

This guys was really fucked up

[NickPappagiorgio]

Sad story, she was a very pretty gal. I always thought that beating women was something from our parents generation, not the younger generation

[Dirty]

No telling how this kid was raised as they usually repeat the way they were treated

[Dirty]

Documents: Cops found shirt, letter

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Associated Press


Candlelight Vigil Held For Yeardley Love

The University of Virginia remembers Yeardley Love
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Candlelight Vigil Held For Yeardley Love
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Four years ago, George Huguely's prep school lacrosse coaches looked at him and found an easygoing prankster with a lighthearted attitude and the skills to earn him a spot on one of the country's top college programs.
On Wednesday, police said they had looked in the University of Virginia senior's apartment and found a crimson-stained Cavaliers lacrosse jersey and a letter to the woman Huguely is accused of beating to death, a senior on Virginia's women's team.
The arrest of Huguely and the death this week of Yeardley Love, both 22, have struck the highly ranked teams as they prepare for the NCAA tournament and shaken some on the picturesque campus where students are studying for finals.
A memorial for Love was held Wednesday night, and her funeral was set for Saturday in Maryland. Huguely remained jailed on a charge of first-degree murder. The teams will compete in the tournament, and the university's athletic director said Love's family supported that decision.
Love's roommate and the roommate's boyfriend found Yeardley's battered body early Monday. Police have said Huguely and Love were once involved in a relationship but that it had ended. According to a search warrant affidavit, Huguely kicked in her bedroom door and told them her head hit a wall several times as he shook her.
His attorney, Francis Lawrence, called Love's death an accident.
In court documents filed Wednesday, Charlottesville police said they took the stained jersey, the letter to Love and other items from Huguely's apartment hours after Love's body was discovered, according to the Charlottesville Daily Progress. The court records were later sealed.
The 6-foot-2, 209-pound Huguely was charged just days before he and Love were to graduate and play in the NCAA tournament for the Cavaliers, with both teams considered contenders for the national title. Such an opportunity seemed like a done deal for Huguely as far back as 2006, when he was the star player at the $28,826-a-year, all-boys Landon School in Bethesda, Md., which churns out players for top college programs like Virginia and Duke.
"Very frankly, this kind of killing is so rare that there are few protocols in higher education to deal with it," university president John Casteen said.
Peter Preston and his family were neighbors of the Huguelys for more than a decade, and their children grew up playing together. He said the allegations against Huguely, whom he knew as "Georgie," were baffling since he always seemed like "just a wonderful, charming, polite young man."
Preston said his son, Michael, who is one year older than Huguely, had grown up playing lacrosse with him, but Michael and Huguely saw less of each as they grew older and went to different high schools.
"George is not a monster," Preston said.
During a 45-minute candle light vigil at a packed campus amphitheater that holds 1,500, Casteen urged those in the standing-room-only crowd to step forward and report when they suspect incidents of domestic violence. He said he hoped that Love's death would "inspire an anger and a sense of outrage" to ensure no person suffers the same fate.
"Tuck away in your soul the knowledge that neither Yeardley Love nor any woman attacked ever deserved it," Casteen said.
As Casteen spoke, Love's former teammates comforted each other and cried.
At Landon, Huguely once snatched coach Rob Bordley's car keys from the coach's office, drove around the school to where the coach was and talked with him from the driver's seat until it dawned on Bordley what had happened, according to a 2006 article in The Washington Post.
Bordley described the high-scoring Huguely then as Landon's premier player, with a top-notch attitude.
"He's always in an upbeat mood," Bordley said. "Nothing really fazes him. I've asked my assistant coaches if they've ever seen him rattled and they said no. He's just unflappable."
Two other accounts in the 2006 story referred to Huguely joking about women at lacrosse games. In one, he said he bet a Landon assistant coach that if he pulled off a big play by picking off a pass, the assistant coach's fiancee would kiss him. Huguely made the play and then asked the assistant coach for the woman's number. He also cracked wise about "a good-looking EMT" who treated him in 2005 for heat cramps. He said his teammates "wanted to see if I could get her number."
Huguely continued to make a name for himself in college. According to his profile on the Cavaliers' website, Huguely was majoring in anthropology and was vice president of a student branch of Operation Smile, a charity that helps fund reconstructive surgeries for children with deformities such as a cleft palate.
He also got into his share of trouble, however.
Police in Lexington, Va., about 70 miles from Charlottesville, said that in November 2008, Huguely was shocked with a stun gun by an officer after resisting arrest on public intoxication. He pleaded guilty to two charges last year, was placed on six months' probation and was given a 60-day sentence, which was suspended.
The arresting officer, R.L. Moss, said Tuesday that she felt it necessary to use a stun gun because Huguely became abusive and she was no match for his size.
Both Casteen and athletic director Craig Littlepage said neither school officials nor Huguely's coaches knew of his 2008 arrest in Lexington on public intoxication and resisting arrest charges.
Casteen said current reporting laws don't require off-campus authorities to report to colleges and universities when a student is arrested. He said it was a gap in the law that needed to be fixed. Officials also did not know anything about Huguely's relationship with Love.
Bordley, whom the Landon School has declined to make available for interviews, stoutly defended his former players then at Duke during a 2006 scandal. A dancer falsely accused three Duke players, including one from Landon, of sexual assault at a team party.
Bordley told the Post then that in the wake of the incident, he was repeatedly warning his team about the risks of alcohol abuse. Huguely was a member of the Landon team at that point and his father was quoted as counseling him about staying out of trouble once he got to Virginia.
"Regardless of what winds up happening, you have to learn from this experience and take what you can from it," George Huguely Sr. said. "You always have to remember and can't let yourself be in a situation where something like this could happen."
Huguely's parents left his brief court hearing Tuesday without commenting.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press




Virginia president says school didn't know of lacrosse player George Huguely's previous arrest - ESPN