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Dad finds college student daughter killed in apartment; police say it’s no random act
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‘Alina was the most beautiful, open-minded, talented, careful person.’

A father found his daughter, a University of Pittsburgh student, dead in her Pennsylvania apartment on Sunday morning. Authorities said someone beat her death and the case is being treated as a homicide.

New York Post reports that the lifeless body of 20-year-old Alina Sheykhet was found after her father kicked in to door to her bedroom at her apartment home, off of the 500 block of Cable Place. Alina’s roommates told her parents she was sleeping, but concerned about how long she’d been in her bedroom, her parents rushed over to her apartment to check on her.

According to a press release by the Pittsburgh Police Department, Alina died from blunt force trauma.

“At 8:56 a.m. Sunday, October 8, Paramedics and Zone 4 Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 3500 block of Cable Place in Oakland for a report that a female was found unresponsive. Upon arrival, officers discovered the 20-year-old female on the second floor of the residence. Paramedics pronounced her deceased at the scene from blunt force trauma. The Violent Crime Unit is continuing the investigation.”

Chief Scott Schubert indicated that at this time, there is no additional information to go on. No suspects were named, but Schubert indicated that they felt the act was not random.

“We do not believe at this time that this was a random act of violence. There is no continued threat to Oakland residents and the university communities,” Schubert said in a public statement.

Meanwhile, friends were shocked to hear of Alina’s death. Mark Schlaegle, who attended Montour High School with Alina, told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that she was a  “wonderful” person.

“I could go on and on about how much of a wonderful person she is. Alina was the most beautiful, open-minded, talented, careful person.”

Another friend, Nicole, posted a photo of herself and Alina on Twitter, with a heartfelt message.

So far, no suspects or persons of interests have been names. According to Schubert, “releasing additional details at this time could be detrimental to the investigation.”

Check back with CrimeOnline as additional updates become available.

[Feature Photo: Handout]