Crime & Safety
Manhattanville Student Killed in Apparent Homicide
Freshman Marissa Pagli was found dead on campus Monday afternoon.
Marissa Pagli was beloved by everyone who knew her at Manhattanville College, the school's president wrote in a new message to the campus community, mourning the young woman's death.
Pagli, 18, was found dead on campus on Monday afternoon, the victim of an apparent homicide.
A 911 call at 12:20 p.m. directed police to staff housing. Her father worked as a maintenance supervisor and had been with the college since 1996.
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"An avid volleyball player, she grew up on our campus and many of our staff and faculty knew her long before she enrolled as a freshman at the College," President Molly Easo Smith wrote. "Beautiful within and without, she brought laughter and joy to many of you, qualities we must now remember and honor as we celebrate her life. For those who did not know her personally, Marissa will always be the friendship they missed, the company they might have known, the classmate they would have loved. Together we extend our love and compassion to Marissa's family who has been a part of ours for many years."
The Harrison Police Department has not released any information regarding cause of death or specifics of the investigation. But Harrison Police Captain and acting Police Chief Anthony Marraccini hinted that an important announcement will be made at some point on Wednesday. Adding that his department needed to be cautious about making information public given the gravity of the situation.
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"We are in the heart of an investigation," he said. "It is a very bizarre episode so we need to make sure that we have all of our I's dotted and T's crossed."
Although no arrests have been made, authorities have maintained since Monday that students on campus are not in any danger.
"The campus is safe, the students are safe," Marraccini said. "It was an isolated incident that involved a family matter."
The campus was never shut down as a result of the incident. Peter Giles, who's company handles public relations for the college, said that the school is focusing on grief counseling while police continue to investigate.
"They are making sure that they are managing communication as well as possible," Giles said. "(Dr. Smith's) total concern right now is to make sure parents and students are kept fully informed."
Pagli, a 2009 graduate of Harrison High School and #4 on the college's volleyball team, had just turned 18 in August, according to an online team roster that was taken down yesterday.
Her parents, John and Stacey Pagli, also have a 3-year-old daughter, Gianna.
A wake will be held on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Craft Memorial Funeral Home in Port Chester, according to a Facebook page created in her memory. A funeral service is set for 11 a.m. Friday at Saint Anthony of Padua Church in West Harrison. More than 1,300 people have joined the Facebook page so far.
She planned to major in mathematics and education. Giles said that the college's president is accepting input on how to honor Pagli's memory.
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