Cady Stribling
News Editor
[email protected]

Dionte Berry
Features Editor
[email protected]

Kentucky State Police identified the body of a Murray State student who was found Friday morning, March 26, in a ditch near Cherry Corner area in Murray.

The body was identified to be 21-year-old Sarah Townsend, a Murray State pre-veterinary major and residential advisor at the College Courts. She was originally from Farmville, Virginia.

According to a Kentucky State Police press release, a passerby located a body in Southern Calloway County on Fox Road near McCuiston Drive around 7 a.m. on Friday. The body was described to be a 25 to 35-year-old white female, approximately 6’1 and weighing about 300 lbs with light brown and blondish hair. Other identifiers were purple framed glasses, a white Murray State t-shirt, black Capri pants and blue Crocs.

Investigators later confirmed the body to be Townsend.

An autopsy was conducted Friday afternoon at the Western Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Madisonville, according to the release. Preliminary reports showed Townsend died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Julius Sotomayor of Dexter, Kentucky, was arrested and charged on Saturday, March 27, as a suspect in the case.

“Evidence and statements obtained throughout the investigation provided investigators with sufficient probable cause to arrest Sotomayor who was charged with Murder, Theft by Unlawful Taking (Auto) and Tampering with Physical Evidence,” according to the Kentucky State Police press release.

Sotomayor is currently being held in the Calloway County Jail.

Concern about Townsend was raised on Friday, March 26, when Murray State police conducted a welfare check on her after concerns were raised when she was absent from work that afternoon, according to the release.

According to the press release, after investigators interviewed friends and family, they were able to determine her last known whereabouts. Investigators found Townsend’s Toyota Camry had been on traffic cameras in central Georgia, and further investigation showed Sotomayor has ties to the same area in Georgia.

The Kentucky State Police said the Toyota Camry was making its way back to Kentucky in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 27, according to the release. Detectives found Sotomayor in his Dexter, Kentucky home at around 4 a.m. with Townsend’s stolen vehicle nearby.

On Saturday morning, March 27, the Murray State community was alerted of Townsend’s death by President Bob Jackson.

“I am deeply saddened to write this letter to you,” Jackson said. “Last night, we received tragic news of the death of Sarah Townsend. Sarah was a student majoring in pre-veterinary medicine/animal/veterinary technology and a residential advisor at the College Courts Apartments. Murray State University is one Racer family and this loss is felt deeply by all of us… Please keep the family and friends of Sarah in your thoughts and prayers.”

Murray State offers free counseling resources to students and staff members. Learn more about these resources at the University Counseling Services website.

The News will continue to follow the ongoing investigation.