UCLA Student's Body Found in Apartment Fire, Boyfriend Named 'Person of Interest'

A UCLA student was found dead today at the scene of an apartment fire in Westwood.

Firefighters were sent to the 10900 block of Roebling Avenue at 7:05 a.m.

“We received preliminary reports that a person might still be in the burning apartment, so firefighters made an aggressive attack and search,” said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department. “Sadly, a person was found who was beyond medical help.”

The cause of the fire, which was extinguished in about 15 minutes, was under investigation, he said.

LAPD Officer Liliana Preciado of the Media Relations office said shortly after the fire that the woman’s boyfriend had been named as a “person of interest.”

Late this morning, LAPD Sgt. Marlon Marrache, also of Media Relations, said the woman’s boyfriend was no longer considered a person of interest, but he declined to elaborate.

Detectives were investigating whether the woman died in or before the fire. Her name was withheld pending notification of her relatives, but the Daily Bruin reported that she was entering her fourth year at UCLA and was studying psychology and Spanish.

City News Service