Student found dead at suburban NY college; police say campus safe, killing was ‘family matter’

Student killing at NY college a ‘family matter’

PURCHASE, N.Y. — A freshman at a private suburban college who grew up on campus as the daughter of a maintenance worker was found slain in her family’s staff housing apartment, and police on Tuesday characterized the killing as domestic violence.

Harrison police Capt. Anthony Marraccini said investigators were “not actively seeking a suspect” in Monday’s killing at Manhattanville College. He would not elaborate except to say it was a “family matter.”

The college identified the student as Marissa Pagli, 18, a freshman volleyball player at the school in Purchase, about 27 miles northeast of Manhattan.

The student’s mother was found unconscious when the girl was found dead, and was hospitalized, said Peter Giles, a college spokesman. Police said they had been in contact with the father, a maintenance supervisor at the school, but would not disclose his whereabouts. Marraccini would not say if either parent was a suspect.

Marraccini, the acting Harrison police chief, said he was awaiting autopsy results before revealing cause of death or other findings. His office said later that no more information would be released Tuesday.

Officials said the campus was safe and classes were being held as scheduled.

President Molly Easo Smith said Pagli “grew up on our campus and many of our staff and faculty knew her long before she enrolled.”

“The community is shocked, saddened,” she said. “Our community now is concentrating on remembering her and honoring her.” Reporters were not permitted to talk to students on campus.

The college is a liberal arts school of about 3,000 students. Full-time, full-price undergraduate students pay about $45,000 a year for tuition and room and board.

Several women from the Kennedy family attended Manhattanville, including Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, the mother of President John F. Kennedy, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, his sister and founder of the Special Olympics. The college was a women’s school until 1969 and Catholic until 1971.

Giles said grief counseling was available to students on Tuesday. Smith said the college was welcoming suggestions for how to honor Pagli.

A tribute page was posted on Facebook.