CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Police say a Virginia lacrosse player suspected of killing a member of the women’s team shook her and hit her head repeatedly against the wall.
An affidavit filed with a search warrant says police found 22-year-old Yeardley Love face down in her bedroom with a pool of blood on her pillow.
Police also say the suspect, 22-year-old George Huguely, told them he had an altercation with Love and had kicked in her door.
Police say Huguely said he once had a relationship with Love, but it had ended.
Huguely was charged Monday with first-degree murder after police found Love’s body at her Charlottesville apartment.
A lawyer representing Huguely said earlier Love’s death was an accident.
Defense lawyer Francis Lawrence said he was confident Love’s death was not intentional.
“Until more information becomes available, it is our hope that no conclusions will be drawn or judgments made about George or his case,” Lawrence said today, reading a statement to reporters outside a courthouse. “We are confident that Ms. Love’s death was not intended, but an accident with a tragic outcome.”
Lawrence did not elaborate and said he would have no further comment.
Huguely, of Chevy Chase, Md., appeared by videoconference today at a court hearing, wearing a gray-striped jail uniform. He did not speak during the proceeding between his lawyers and the judge. There was no discussion of bond for him.
Huguely’s parents and stepfather were in the courtroom. They left the courthouse through a back entrance without talking to reporters.
Love’s roommate called police around 2:15 a.m. concerned that Love may have had an alcohol overdose, Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo said. Police found her dead with obvious physical injuries, Longo said, but he did not believe any weapons were used in the killing.
Love, of Cockeysville, Md., was only weeks from earning a degree and she and her teammates were expecting to end their season by winning a national championship.
As the news trickled throughout campus, suggestions that the death may have stemmed from a domestic situation did little to ease concerns.
“Just to hear that anybody in the U.Va. community could be suspected of that, regardless of the relationship, does give you a sense of unease,” said Drew Cook, 22, of Burke, said.
Kyle Cecil, 22, of Newport News, said he lived on the same hall as Huguely as a freshman, and knew him well enough to say hello. He was shocked to see police cars at the building on his way to class, and more shocked when he learned of Huguely’s arrest.
Leonard Sandridge, executive vice president of the university, told reporters the campus was saddened, and that the pain is magnified because the accused is “one of our own.”
The lacrosse teams met at least once during the day, but lacrosse players and school officials declined repeatedly to comment, referring to a school statement.
The men’s and women’s lacrosse seasons — both teams are national title contenders — were “not even entering into our thoughts,” athletic director Craig Littlepage said.
The NCAA tournament pairings are to be announced Sunday, and the men’s team is expected to host a first-round game, and the women’s team is also expecting to be included.
Huguely, a midfielder, wasn’t a starter but played in all 15 games this season. He had four goals and three assists. Love played defense and started in three games this season.
Love was “described as an angel by teammates and friends,” Littlepage said.
She played varsity lacrosse and field hockey for four years at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Baltimore.
“Yeardley was the core of the personality of the team. She was our laughter, a good soul. She always found an appropriate way to lighten things up,” said Mary Bartel, who coached lacrosse at Notre Dame Prep. “I don’t think there is a soul in this building who couldn’t say her name without smiling.”
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