U.Md. student found dead in car near Arundel Mills Mall

WASHINGTON – A 22-year-old University of Maryland senior has been found dead in a car near Arundel Mills Mall, but police say there’s no obvious sign of foul play.

Anne Arundel County police say mall security officers found the body of Katherine Morris slumped inside a vehicle behind the Anne Arundel Community College satellite building early Sunday and called 911. Police officers and EMS personnel responded and the woman was pronounced dead.

An email sent just after 6 p.m. Sunday night by University of Maryland Resident Life staff to South Campus Commons 2 residents says the University was notified of the death by the UMD Department of Public Safety.

The email gave the student’s name and a phone call by WTOP to Anne Arundel police confirmed that Morris was the same woman who was unidentified in an earlier press release.

Friends were Tweeting about Morris on Sunday night.

Marcela Jordan (@theycallmeCELA) Tweeted to WTOP’s Nick Pisano “kathy was one of the sweetest girls i ever met. shy to the outsiders but so inspiring to all her close friends. she really wanted to make a difference in the world.. planned on joining the air force #RIPkathy (sic).”

A Tweet by Diamond Burton (@Nah_noSparkle), said “I can’t believe this. Im so sorry that she’s gone. Gone too soon. Rest in Peace Kathy Morris.” That Tweet was followed by one that read, “Trying to figure out what I could of did for her.”

Police say it’s not clear how long Morris or the vehicle were at the location. Her body was taken to the medical examiner for autopsy.

WTOP’s Nick Pisano, Ari Ashe and Lacey Mason contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press and WTOP. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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