EMU student and aspiring broadcaster Julia Niswender found murdered in apartment

A 23-year-old Easte Michigan University student has been found murdered in her off-campus apartment after she failed to show up to a Christmas party.

Police launched a homicide investigation after they discovered Julia Niswender's lifeless body in her bedroom on Tuesday night along with evidence they dubbed 'suspicious.'

Niswender's roommate called police at around 9.30pm and asked them to check on the young woman after she hadn't been seen for a number of days.

The pretty communications major worked at Walmart part time and had also failed to show up at the supermarket's staff Christmas celebrations that night, conceing colleagues.

Officers arrived and called paramedics but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ypsilanti police Detective Sgt. Thomas Eberts said police were treating Niswender's death as suspicious, adding that the evidence found in her apartment led to 'unanswered questions.'

According to Annarbor.com, he wouldn't elaborate on what evidence was uncovered and how she is believed to have been killed.

An autopsy was performed on Wednesday but EMU police chief Robert Heighes said it could be days before the cause of death is known.

Police haven't released any information about a possible murder suspect.

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Suspicious: Police said they found suspicious evidence surrounding Niswender's body

The university sent out an alert to wa students of an incident near campus as soon as police discovered the woman's body, Fox News reported.

While she didn't live at the university, she shared a flat at the Peninsular Place Apartments, which are very near to the EMU campus.

EMU police held a campus safety meeting on Wednesday night, taking questions from distraught students and offering safety tips to around 200 members of the community who showed up.

However, Heighes was unable to shed light on whether the person who is believed to have killed Niswender was armed and dangerous.

Twins: Friends and family members were flooding the Facebook page of Julia's twin, Kimberly, with condolences after hearing the tragic news

Life cut short: A budding broadcaster, Niswender recently traveled to New York City to tour the NBC studios, pictured

Crime scene: Niswender was found dead in her bedroom at the Peninsular Place Apartments, pictured

He did, though, ask students to take extra safety precautions, suggesting they avoid wearing headphones while walking on campus, walk with a partner, call police if they see something suspicious and to call authorities if they get any unsolicited visitors.

EMU officials also said they're adding extra police patrols.

University President Susan Martin choked up as she extended her sympathies to Niswender's friends and family.

'Our job is to communicate directly to you what we know and what we don't know,' she told students, many of whom were in tears in the auditorium.

Niswender was described as a loving, outgoing and kind friend. She was a budding broadcaster who recently toured the NBC studios in New York City.

Safety: Easte Michigan University Police Chief Robert Heighes, pictured, talked to students on campus

Distraught: Friends and classmates of Julia Niswender cried during a forum on campus security at the Easte Michigan University on Wednesday

University alert: The university sent out an alert to wa students of an incident near campus and held a safety session for students and the community yesterday, pictured

Condolences flooded the Facebook page of her twin sister, Kimberley, who recently graduated the university.

Karen Pruss wrote: 'Kim... I just heard....I am sooo sorry... Please let me know if I can do anything...I'm lifting u all up in prayer.'

Another friend, Sheri Prater, said in a comment: '....no words... I am so sorry Kim. We all love all of you so much.'

One of Niswender's Walmart colleagues described the young woman as 'always smiling.'

'Best personality, loudest laugh, just wouldn't hurt anybody, always smiling,' Keith Logue told Fox News.

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