Kentucky college wrestler accused of fatally strangling teammate in his dorm
02/26/2024 1:49 pm PST
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (TCD) -- Police located and arrested a wanted man over the weekend on suspicion of killing a fellow wrestling teammate at a Christian university.
On Saturday, Feb. 24, at around 12:43 a.m., the Campbellsville Police Department responded to the Campbellsville University campus to a report of an unresponsive male. The victim, later identified by police as 18-year-old Josiah Kilman, was found in his dorm room, according to a statement from the university.
Kilman was transported to Taylor Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim died from manual strangulation, LEX-TV reports.
Police obtained an arrest warrant for 21-year-old Charles Escalera in connection with Kilman's death.
According to The Associated Press, both Escalera and Kilman were wrestlers at the private university.
At approximately 5:15 p.m., the Green County Sheriff's Office and Kentucky State Police responded to a report of a "suspicious male inside a barn" and located Escalera, police said in an updated release. Kentucky State Police took Escalera into custody without incident, and he remains held in the Taylor County Detention Center on charges of murder and second-degree burglary.
In a statement, Campbellsville University President Dr. Joseph Hopkins said, "Campbellsville University is grieving the loss of one of our family. We have lost a student and our hearts are broken. During this devastating time, the continued safety of our students and the residents of our community are our primary concern."
A campus lockdown had been lifted following Escalera's arrest.
MORE:
- Media Release - Campbellsville Police Department
- Campbellsville University Releases Statement Following Death of Student - Campbellsville University
- Update –– 21-year-old Charles E. Escalera has been captured - Campbellsville Police Department
- Taylor County Detention Center
- New details emerge in the death of a Campbellsville University student - LEX
- A teammate is charged with killing an athlete at a Christian university - The Associated Press
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