Bloomsburg Freshman Found Dead After Fall
Justin P. King, a Bloomsburg University first-year business administration major, was found dead over the weekend after an apparent fall.
His body was found by a person on the walking trail below the Crag Mansion just after 7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14.
An autopsy performed on Sept. 16 showed that King had blunt force trauma to the head which was consistent with a fall. The manner of death has been ruled an accident, according to the Columbia County Coroner’s Office.
The toxicology testing has not yet been released.
The president of the university, Dr. Hanna, sent faculty an email on Sept. 16 at 11:11 a.m. saying, “…our campus community suffered the tragic loss of one of our students this past weekend” and asked everyone to keep “Justin’s family, friends, and classmates” in their thoughts and prayers.
An email was also sent to students on the same day at 11:56 a.m. from Dr. Somerville, the Vice President for Student Affairs, mentioning that counseling is available.
According to the United Press International, in 1991, the fraternity Delta Pi was suspended from Bloomsburg University when three people fell from the cliff while at a party. There has been no confirmation of this from the Bloomsburg Police Department.
In 1997, a Bloomsburg University student, Matthew Miller, was said to have been running from a party when it was raided by police and he fell down the cliff behind the Crag mansion. According to the United Press International, a toxicology report showed “no trace of alcohol or drugs in his system.” His parents stated he had heart problems.
The Press Enterprise reported that in 2006, Kevin White apparently became lost after leaving a party, was seeking high-ground to find the signature Carver Hall, and fell to his death off the cliff.
There is a GoFundMe to raise money for King’s funeral. You can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-for-justin-king
The GoFundMe has raised over $11,000 in just two days, and is continuing to gain not only monetary support but also an outpouring of condolences.
One such message is left by Dr. Mehall, an assistant professor in the Zeigler College of Business, who remembers his student as a “bright, talented young man,” adding that “the entire BU community will miss him.”
Rachana Tith, an old classmate of King’s posted on Facebook, “He always had the biggest heart and made me laugh and smile.”
There is not yet any information about funeral arrangements.
This is a developing story. BUnow will provide updates as we learn more.
Cover Photo: Reading Eagle
