Ky. college wrestler found dead in dorm room, former team member charged

Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A college wrestler was found dead in his Kentucky dorm room over the weekend and a suspect identified as a former team member at Campbellsville University has been charged with murder, authorities say.

The victim was identified as Josiah Malachi Kilman, 18, a freshman at the university. He was taken to a local hospital after being found unresponsive in his dorm room by medical crews shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday, where he was pronounced dead of his injuries, the Campbellsville, Ky., Police Department said in a statement .

Shortly afterwards authorities imposed a lockdown on the campus, located about 80 miles south of Louisville, and launched a manhunt for 21-year-old Charles Escalera on murder charges.

Hours later, police announced that Green County, Ky., Sheriff's deputies and the Kentucky State Police had located Escalera in a barn and had taken him into custody.

Authorities have not released details about the killing or a motive. It's not clear if the victim and the suspect knew each other prior to the incident, although Escalerea was identified by FloWrestling as a fellow wrestler and a former member of the Campbellsville University team.

Kilman was a decorated high school wrestler from Montana where he was a state medalist from Columbia Falls High School, the sports broadcaster said.

"Campbellsville University is grieving the loss of one of our family," college president Joseph Hopkins said in a statement . "We have lost a student and our hearts are broken."

The Kentucky slaying continued a string of recent campus violence across the United States.

A 22-year-old nursing student was killed two days ago while jogging on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens. Police arrested a 26-year old man on murder charges in connection with that incident.

And on Friday, a 25-year-old man appeared on charges of murdering two University of Colorado students in their Colorado Springs dorm room after allegedly arguing with one of the victims over smoking and litter.