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Virginia Tech Runner David Eisenhauer Arrested and Charged with Murder of 13-Year-Old Girl

Yesterday 18-year-old Virginia Tech cross country runner David Eisenhauer was arrested and charged with the murder and abduction of a 13-year-old girl shortly after her remains were found in Surry County, North Carolina, according to the Roanoke Times.

She had been missing since Wednesday, when her family found her dresser pressed up against her bedroom door. They believe that she left through her window, and that her cellphone had been turned off since she went missing.

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Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt declined to comment about whether there was an apparent cause of death or the condition of the girl's remains. Blacksburg police chief Anthony Wilson didn't go into details, but drew a large picture of how the evidence directed them to Eisenhauer.

"This was a huge investigation that involved, unfortunately, taking apart the life of a 13-year-old and figuring out where she was and who she had come in contact with," Wilson said at a press conference last night. "I'm not going to go into all the specific pieces of it, but when the pieces did come together, Mr. Eisenhauer was identified."

Wilson indicated that a large part of their evidence was obtained from tips from local law enforcement and by reviewing social media. The Roanoke Times also reported that "[o]fficials declined to give any information on how and when Lovell and Eisenhauer initially came in contact with each other."

Per VT's policy on felony arrests, Eisenhauer, 18, has been placed on immediate interim suspension, University spokesperson Tracy Vosburgh told the Roanoke Times.

UPDATE (as of 6:27pm, 1/31/16):

A second Virginia Tech student has been arrested and was charged with improper disposal of a body and accessory after the fact, the Roanoke Times reported in an update today.

The suspect, Natalie Marie Keepers, 19, like Eisenhauer, is also from Maryland—they are from the cities of Laurel and Columbia, respectively. Both suspects are being held in the Montgomery County jail without bond.

Blacksburg police Lt. Mike Albert also confirmed that Eisenhauer and the girl "were acquainted" prior to her death, and that Eisenhauer "used this relationship to his advantage, to abduct and then kill her." Details about the nature of their relationship—and Eisenhauer's relationship with Keepers—are still forthcoming.