UTPA reports woman's body found on campus

EDINBURG -- Police are investigating the discovery of woman's body on the University of Texas-Pan American campus Monday morning, prompting cancellation of some classes.

The university reports there is no immediate danger on the campus.

Police have yet to identify the adult female, whose body was found near an external staircase of the Science Building shortly before 8 a.m. Monday, a UTPA news release states.

Though investigators have begun gathering fingerprints at the scene, Detective Diego Mata said they are looking into the possibility of whether the female fell to her death from the third floor in the stairwell. He added she appeared to be in her early 20's.

Construction workers discovered the body early Monday, said UTPA Assistant Police Chief James Loya.

Texas Rangers and Edinburg police have also begun investigating what the news release described as a "suspicious death."

The university has sent text message alerts to students, faculty and staff requesting they avoid the science building, which sits on the eastside of campus and where classes scheduled today have been cancelled.

UTPA reports that "operations at other campus facilities remain normal," with no indication that classes in other buildings will be cancelled.

Students received a text message "Bronc Alert" about 8:50 a.m. Monday informing them that university police initiated an investigation into the "questionable" death. Students following the university on social media website criticized the vaguness of the message, asking for more information and why all classes were not cancelled for the day.

1:15 P.M. UPDATE:

Judge Charlie Espinoza pronounced the woman dead at 8:45 a.m. and ordered an autopsy, he said. She appeared to be Hispanic with dark brown hair. She wore a sweatshirt and jeans, but did not carry identifying information.

Investigators did not find any other personal belongings at the scene, he said.

“If she jumped from the balcony, she may have crawled to an area on the south side of the stairs,” he said.

Espinoza did not see any evidence of a possible stabbing or shooting, he said, but added he was not allowed to touch or inspect the body as investigators continued to gather evidence.