Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ST. GEORGE — Officials identified a Dixie State University student who died on the campus Tuesday evening.
Around 8 p.m., a university employee found 26-year-old Jessica Reynolds, a freshman studying chemistry, unresponsive in the Student Activities Center, according to Dixie State University officials.
“The staff member immediately called 911, and campus police responded within a minute and began performing CPR,” Dixie State University officials said in a statement. “When paramedics arrived on the scene, they continued to administer CPR for 25 minutes but were unable to revive Reynolds.”
The medical examiner, county attorney and the St. George Police Department also responded to the Student Activities Center. Officials transported Reynolds’ body to the medical examiner’s office in Salt Lake City, and an autopsy is underway. As of Wednesday afternoon, autopsy results were not yet available.
Campus security director Don Reid told The Spectrum of St. George that an employee reported seeing a bathroom stall locked around 3:30 p.m. and checked again around 8 p.m. and found the woman's body.
Reid says he can't speculate on the cause of death.
Del Beatty, the university’s Dean of Students, said a group therapy session for students, faculty and staff impacted by Reynolds’ death took place at Dixie State’s Health and Wellness Center at 12 p.m. Wednesday. Additionally, he said people can make appointments through the center for individual sessions. The phone number for the center is 435-652-7756.
“Instances like these are always tragic when they impact our student body,” Beatty said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and will do anything we can to help them and all students get through this challenging time.”
Police do not suspect foul play in Reynolds’ death.
Contributing: Associated Press
