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Detectives: Pepperdine President's Son Not A Suspect In Death Of Student

MALIBU (CBS) — Authorities sought answers from the son of the president of Pepperdine University on Thursday concerning any information he may have on the death of a Malibu woman.

KNX 1070's John Brooks reports Christopher A. Benton has previously refused to talk with Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives.

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Benton, 27, is the son of Pepperdine president Andrew K. Benton, is not considered a suspect in the death of Katie Wilkins, according to homicide detective Tim O'Quinn.

The body of the 25-year-old graphic designer was found on April 28 in her parents' garage on West Moon Shadows Drive by her brother Steve, who says his sister struggled with cocaine and heroin addictions.

Steve said now all his family has are questions that deserve to be answered.

"What happened? How could she be left like this?" he asked.

Detectives are inspecting Wilkins' car — which had been missing since her death — for fingerprints after it was found on Wednesday in Woodland Hills.

Benton, who is currently in a drug rehabilitation facility, is believed to be the last person who saw Wilkins alive, detectives said.

Toxicology test results are still pending regarding Wilkins' cause of death, which was preliminarily believed to be a heroin overdose.

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