Woman's Dead Body Found On UT-Austin Campus Along Creek [UPDATE]

AUSTIN, TX -- University of Texas at Austin campus police have launched a homicide investigation after a dead body was found in a creek behind the alumni center.

Police have confirmed the dead person was a woman in her 20s, although they didn't release her identity. Her body was found between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

"It's a tragic day," UT President Gregory L. Fenves said in a press briefing staged at university police headquarters shortly after 4:30 p.m. "Our home has been violated."

The body was found in a section of the creek just across the street from Darryl K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

"It's a difficult and tragic day for our campus community," Fenves said. "Our hearts go out to the victim and their family."

UT police didn't release the woman's identify during the afternoon update. One television station, KVUE-TV, is reporting the cadaver may be the body of a missing student who hasn't been seen since April 3.

University police said they would bolster their patrolling activity in the wake of the death, and noted the Texas Rangers and the Texas Department of Public Safety also conduct patrols near the campus.

Police sought to ease any concerns, saying the campus was safe despite the incident that appears to be an isolated example.

“UT is a community, a family, when a tragedy like this occurs on campus, in our home, we have to come together,” Fenves said.

Anyone with information is urged to call the UT Police Department at (512) 471-4441.

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"I have spoken with campus public safety leaders and am writing to assure you that we are doing everything possible to ensure safety on campus," Fenves said earlier in a statement. "We are also working closely with Austin police to identify possible suspects. We are unable to release the name of the victim or any details until the family has been notified."

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Police officers stood guard all along the perimeter of the creek, its various access points cordoned off. Those gathered on campus -- including diners at a campus deli -- seemed oblivious to the situation, despite the placement of police and yellow tape.

Waller Creek begins north of the University of Texas campus and meanders all the way through downtown. Normally, it's accessible via campus grounds but precariously so given its sloping angles at some points some 20 feet below campus level.

UT Austin Police said on Twitter that officers were expected to remain in the area "for hours" and people to "avoid the area."

Fenves didn't specify if the dead body was that of a student, but called the incident a "tragedy."

"Today, we are dealing with a tragedy on campus," he wrote in a statement. "University police have discovered a body in Waller Creek behind the alumni center and are investigating a possible homicide."

He said the campus would remain open as scheduled, and operations would run as normal. The school reminded students on its Twitter account that counseling services are available 24 hours a day at (512) 471-2255.

Marc Torrence contributed to this report.