MORGANTOWN — The WVU professor found dead behind a church only steps from campus likely died in an accidental fall according to the University Police Department.
Elizabeth Ann Leo, 34, was found behind the Lutheran Campus Ministry, on University Avenue, the morning of May 10. A church worker found the body.
Available evidence shows Leo likely died from head trauma, after falling 12-15 feet onto a sidewalk from either a fire escape or the rooftop of her home, UPD announced on Wednesday night. It’s believed she was outside to smoke a cigarette.
The UPD released the information by mistake based on a press release draft, Morgantown’s Public Information Officer Andrew Stacy said.
The Morgantown Police Department is the investigating agency on the case and has not yet determined a cause of death pending the results of an autopsy, he said.
“The MPD cannot officially rule this death as anything but an unattended death at this time,” Stacy said.
He said the medical examiner’s office has staffing and workload issues which typically causes “significant delays” in receiving autopsy results. There is no timeline on when the results will be back.
The MPD treats all unattended deaths as homicides until proven otherwise, Stacy said. The case will remain open until a definitive cause of death has been determined.
In 2017 Leo graduated from WVU with a Master of Fine Arts, according to April Kaull, WVU spokesperson. She was scheduled to teach an online session of English 102 over the summer.
Cynthia Ulrich, administrative assistant for WVU’s department of English, said Leo was hired as an adjunct professor following her graduation. While earning her Master’s, Leo taught English 101 and 102 – classes required by every WVU student.
“I know that her students loved her,” she said.
Leo was quiet and timid but very sweet and easy to talk to, Ulrich said.
“Our thoughts are with Elizabeth’s family during this difficult time,” Kaull said. “As our campus community mourns her loss, the Carruth Center is available for students, and faculty or staff may seek support though our Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.”
