A Philadelphia college student was found dead in a creek on Friday morning.
NBC 10 Philadelphia reports the body of 21-year-old Kierra Johnson was discovered by a jogger in Cobbs Creek in West Philadelphia. On Thursday afternoon, Johnson’s mother reported her daughter was missing.
Autopsy reports conducted over the weekend revealed the Hussian School of Art student died by way of strangulation. But officials are unsure if she was killed before or after her body was dumped in the water.
Dean of Academic Affairs at Hussain Sylvia McCray said students were in mourning on Friday.
“Talented, gentle, kind and always smiling Ki was not only a visual artist, but a performance artist as well,” McCray said in a statement according to CBS3 Philly. “She will be deeply missed by all and it is a particularly difficult time for us as we are a small, close-knit community.”
Philadelphia homicide detectives are investigating Johnson’s death.
