2008 Woodie Awards
Graduate student homicide investigation continues
Sydney Elliot
Issue date: 9/18/08 Section: News
"I knew her well enough to know she was a pleasant person," Nobel said. "For what it's worth, she was a really wonderful and smart person."
Noble said Tummala was chosen by electrical and computer engineering professor Scott Umbaugh to be a graduate assistant in the Engineering Department.
When Umbaugh first heard the news of Tummala's death, he said he was shocked and "it didn't make sense.
"Nothing like that has ever happened, I'm still shocked," Umbaugh said. "For that day and the next I kept trying to find out if it was really Soumya."
Tummala was chosen to be a graduate assistant for Umbaugh because she received one of the highest grades in his class and she was also a teaching assistant for the department, Umbaugh said.
"She was conscientious, hardworking and bright," Umbaugh said. "She had everything going for her. She was doing research and had a paper published … last year, and everyone liked her."
Ann Losoff, staff psychologist at Counseling Services, said anyone who needed to talk could seek counseling.
"Right now all we can do is express our condolences to her friends and classmates, and to encourage them to come to the counseling center for help dealing with this terrible tragedy," Losoff said.
Walk-ins are accepted for one session, and future sessions must have a scheduled appointment. Intake forms are available for download at www.siue.edu/counseling, or paperwork can be filled out in the office. Counseling Services is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and can be reached at 650-2197.
Noble said Tummala was chosen by electrical and computer engineering professor Scott Umbaugh to be a graduate assistant in the Engineering Department.
When Umbaugh first heard the news of Tummala's death, he said he was shocked and "it didn't make sense.
"Nothing like that has ever happened, I'm still shocked," Umbaugh said. "For that day and the next I kept trying to find out if it was really Soumya."
Tummala was chosen to be a graduate assistant for Umbaugh because she received one of the highest grades in his class and she was also a teaching assistant for the department, Umbaugh said.
"She was conscientious, hardworking and bright," Umbaugh said. "She had everything going for her. She was doing research and had a paper published … last year, and everyone liked her."
Ann Losoff, staff psychologist at Counseling Services, said anyone who needed to talk could seek counseling.
"Right now all we can do is express our condolences to her friends and classmates, and to encourage them to come to the counseling center for help dealing with this terrible tragedy," Losoff said.
Walk-ins are accepted for one session, and future sessions must have a scheduled appointment. Intake forms are available for download at www.siue.edu/counseling, or paperwork can be filled out in the office. Counseling Services is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and can be reached at 650-2197.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
HopeforPeace
posted 9/18/08 @ 10:41 AM CST
Hope her soul rests in peace. God should give strength to their family members and friends to overcome this pain.
Gautam
posted 9/19/08 @ 6:00 AM CST
Hi All,
The murder is incomprehensible. Two young lives made a simple mistake of venturing into an isolated place which proved fatal. They were snatched away by cruel fate leaving relatives in deep agony and mental shock. (Continued…)
AlwaysEvolve
posted 9/19/08 @ 1:52 PM CST
Where is the follow-up story on the local St. Louis TV stations? Why does it seem like these murders have just faded away like the lives of these two persons don't matter? Where are the fellow Indian students demanding answers for these murders? I really don't believe that Vikram shot Soumya!!! Come on SIUE international students!! You should be in an uproar demanding answers and shaking the local news media to dig deeper into these murders. (Continued…)
AlwaysEvolve
posted 9/19/08 @ 2:04 PM CST
Elliot,
Don't let this story die!!! I would like to hear more about these murders. Comments from Vikram's family or people that knew him. Comments from people who were close to Soumya. (Continued…)
AlwaysEvolve
AlwaysEvolve
posted 9/19/08 @ 2:45 PM CST
Just found an article on KSDK.com about a man in a green truck trying to offer 4 girls a ride to school this morning in SPANISH LAKE. Hmmm, is there a killer on the loose? I know my comments may seem a bit blunt, but I am outraged at how these murders are just not getting the news coverage they deserve or perhaps a strong police investigation they deserve!!!
S P P
sai
posted 9/19/08 @ 2:54 PM CST
They found the weapon somewhere in the lake
now the question is did they really suicide or is it a murder reports are yet to come.
I am soumya's friend and used to work with her adn there is no reason in thinking that she wanted to die or commit suicide, she was always jolly, exciting for every small thing, studious, workaholic,
miss you soumya
AlwaysEvolve
AlwaysEvolve
posted 9/19/08 @ 3:08 PM CST
Sai, so do any of the students on campus know anything about Vikram? Did anyone know her well enough to know what her plans were on Friday evening and why she was all the way out at Spanish Lake?
AlwaysEvolve
AE
posted 9/19/08 @ 3:12 PM CST
Let me clarify my last entry. Did anyone know Soumya well enough to know what her plans were on Friday evening?
S P P
S P P
posted 9/20/08 @ 5:18 PM CST
NO one knew what her plans were for friday evening.
Post a Comment