Nicole Lovell went missing from her Blacksburg, Virginia home on January 27. Her body was discovered in Surry County, North Carolina on Saturday. Two Virginia Tech students–18-year-old David Eisenhauer and 19-year-old Natalie Keepers–have been arrested and charged in the case.
David Eisenhauer was charged with the abduction and murder of Nicole Lovell. Natalie Keepers was charged with helping Eisenhauer get rid of her body.
2nd Virginia Tech student arrested in death of 13-year-old Nicole Lovell https://t.co/Nw5TIUGqaA pic.twitter.com/NlWf5pssqs
— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) January 31, 2016
On Saturday morning–prior to the discovery of Nicole Lovell’s body–investigators charged David Eisenhauer with abduction. After her body was found Saturday afternoon, the murder charge was added.
#UPDATE: The body of 13-year-old Nicole Lovell was found in North Carolina last night: https://t.co/vwXOuJQHkK pic.twitter.com/dNuoppkkNz
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) January 31, 2016
Nothing has yet emerged about what–if any–the connection between David Eisenhauer and Nicole Lovell was. All investigators have said is that the two “were acquainted prior to her disappearance.”
“Eisenhauer used this relationship to his advantage to abduct the 13-year-old and then kill her. Keepers helped Eisenhauer dispose of Nicole’s body,” investigators said on Sunday, the day after the arrests.
Virginia Tech President Tim Sands wrote an open letter on Saturday, January 30 regarding the horrific crimes.
“Speaking on behalf of our community, let me say that our hearts go out to Nicole’s family and friends. As a father, as well as Virginia Tech’s president, I want to reassure you that our community is supportive and resilient,” he said.
David Eisenhauer & Natalie Keepers charged in #NicoleLovell case. Follow @cgheilman for updates from #Blacksburg pic.twitter.com/NZNvjCdVua
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) January 31, 2016
Virginia State Police reported that divers searched ponds on the Virginia Tech campus at the request of the local police department. with regard to the Nicole Lovell case.
Nicole Lovell’s body is awaiting an autopsy at the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke, Virginia.