More than a month after the death of Iris Anderson, 37, police continue to investigate her murder.
Kirsten Nelson, public information officer for the Richmond City Police, reported Aug. 16 that a person who has been arrested for another offense is being looked at as a “strong suspect” in the July 16 murder. Forensics reports, however, have not been completed.
Since a VCU maintenance worker found the body of Anderson near the dumpster area south of the T. Edward Temple Building at 901 W. Main St., University Police joined forces with city police in the homicide investigation.
“We have some leads that we’re looking into,” said Willie B. Fuller, chief of the University Police. “Basically we’re looking at alternatives.”
Fuller said the forensics results could provide a key to solving the case.
“This might give us information as to what kind of weapon might have been used and also whether or not it actually happened on campus,” he said. “It (could have) happened elsewhere and somebody…dumped the body back there.”
Henry Rhone, vice provost for student affairs and enrollment services, said student safety on the Monroe Park Campus remains a concern for the VCU community.
“The biggest issue is making sure folks understand some of the safety tips,” Rhone said. “Basically educating people so they will not be in fear. VCU is kind of like a neighborhood, and we would like for students to be able to look out for one another.”
Fuller said students need to be alert in urban environments.
“Other than general safety precautions, I still maintain that this is not something that students should be concerned with,” Fuller said. “Certainly any time that you’re in a city environment that’s open like VCU, always be aware of your surroundings at all times even during the day.”
Fuller also suggested that better lighting in dim areas and trimming shrubbery around a crime area could improve campus safety.
“We’re going to make a report to the university with some stronger crime-prevention recommendations,” he said, explaining that university police had resurveyed the area where the body was found.
As a safety measure, VCU sends students mass e-mails about incidents on campus and recommends ways to avoid encountering criminal activity.
“Anytime a serious crime happens on campus the administration is concerned about it, and that’s why we put out these alerts,” Fuller said. “We want students to know what’s going on and to be mindful of their safety.”
Rhone said that the more students become aware of their surroundings, the safer they will be.
“It’s much better to get good information out to people without getting rumors started,” Rhone said. “One of the worse things to happen is that without the right information, the rumor gets larger and larger. If you can tell people what’s going on in words they can understand people are less fearful.”
VCU administrators, Rhone said, want students and faculty to feel safe walking through the campus.
“We want to help the community understand what is going on,” he said. “Education is to help people understand the environment they live in so they can feel safe about it. We want students to be able to walk around the campus.”
Fuller said the incident, which occurred between the Temple Building and the tennis courts, contains a dirt pathway that connects the Eugene P. and Lois E. Trani Center for Life Sciences and Cherry Street.
“(Students) might use it as a shortcut or something to get to the (parking) decks,” he said.
Rhone recommended having more police visibility as another step that should considered for student safety.
“Obviously, there should be more visibility of the police in and around campus,” he said. “Presence and visibility can really help out a lot.”