04/19/2008

Associated Press

An IPFW student found dead in her campus apartment Friday was stabbed and bled to death, the Allen County coroner's office said.

Paramedics had declared Liette N. Martinez, 22 of Las Cruces, N.M., dead upon their arrival, after a roommate found her.

Fort Wayne police are looking for Tina Loraine Morris, 36, whom they describe as a "person of interest" in connection with the case. Officers say she might be driving a 2006 silver Mazda four-door car with the New Mexico license plate JMR482.

"Our advice to students is to be cautious as you go about your business and go around campus," said Walt Branson, the school's vice chancellor for financial affairs.

The Waterfield Campus housing complex where Martinez lived is across the street from the main campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. It offers apartment-style living in nine residence halls for nearly 800 students.

Residents must have an electronic key card to enter their hall and apartment, Branson said. They also have keys for their rooms. But students don't have to register guests they bring into their building.

The school, which has an enrollment of nearly 12,000 students, canceled classes Friday afternoon and evening after officials sent students an e-mail telling them the death appeared to be a homicide.

Freshman Katelyn MacDonald, 19, said she knew Martinez well and that she loved art, photography and hanging out with friends.

Sophomore Matthew McCoy said Martinez always seemed to be smiling.

"She always made people feel good about themselves, regardless of her day. She just knew how to light up a room," McCoy said. "She was a good girl."

Her death was Fort Wayne's 11th homicide since the middle of March. That includes another IPFW student, Frederick Jones, 19, who was shot April 6 at an off-campus party.

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Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net