Cops look for ex-boyfriend in investigation of student Alina Sheykhet’s violent death

Authorities in Pennsylvania have provided some additional information after announcing they were treating the weekend death of University of Pittsburgh student Alina Sheykhet as a homicide.

In a statement Monday, police asked for information that would help them find Matthew Darby, Sheykhet’s ex-boyfriend from whom she had recently sought a protection order.

As WPXI reported, Sheykhet, 20, took action against Darby, 21, after he was arrested last month on suspicion of breaking into her home.

CrimeOnline previously reported that the Pittsburgh Police Department pointed to blunt force trauma as the cause of her death.

“We do not believe at this time that this was a random act of violence,” said Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert.

He refrained from releasing much further information, though, citing fears that doing so could be “detrimental” to the ongoing investigation.

“As with each homicide investigation, our primary interest is collecting sufficient evidence that can be successfully used in a court of law,” he continued. “I encourage anyone with information that could be helpful to call police headquarters and speak to a violent crime unit detective.”

The crime did not take place on campus, but in a nearby community locals said never sees such violent crime.

WPIX spoke to two of Sheykhet’s neighbors, both of whom had lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years, and neither could remember anything like her murder happening near them.

The victim’s family and friends say she will be remembered as a special, beautiful woman.

As reported by the New York Daily News, the University of Pittsburgh expressed sadness and offered “its deepest sympathies to the student’s family and those who knew her.”

Though police did not refer to Darby as a suspect, the announcement sought any information on his whereabouts. Individuals with tips are asked to call the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Violent Crime Unit at 412-323-7800.

[Featured image: Pittsburgh Police]