Firefighters' tip leads to arrest in UT Austin campus murder
AUSTIN, Texas --A 17-year-old boy was arrested Thursday and charged with murder in thedeath of University of Texas at Austin freshman Haruka Weiser.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said Friday morning that after police released surveillance video Thursday of a possible suspect in Weiser's Sunday night death, Austin firefighters contacted police and said they recognized the suspect.
Meechaiel Criner, 17, was allegedly at the scene of a trash fire on Monday, at the same location where the surveillance video was recorded, Acevedo said. At the time, he was in possession of a woman's bike.
Police called to the fire on Monday brought Criner to LifeWorks, a supportive housing facility. A woman who witnessed the fire also called police after the surveillance video was released Thursday, Acevedo said.
After the firefighters called police Thursday, investigators examined patrol car footage of the suspect recorded Monday, and realized his pants, shoes and bag appeared similar to what was worn by the person they were looking for.
CBS News correspondent David Begnaud reported surveillance video showed the suspect following the victim, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out what was described in the arrest warrant as "a shiny rigid object."
"We saw things in that camera that connected him to this crime and from there we went and picked him up," Acevedo told Begnaud.
There were several items recovered from the fire "which we believe belonged to our victim," Acevedo said.
Criner was arrested at LifeWorks Thursday and remains jailed on a charge of first degree murder, said Acevedo, who added that he is "certain that this suspect is responsible for the death of this beautiful young woman."
Acevedo said the murder appears to be random and that the suspect has not confessed. A motive for the killing is not yet known.
Weiser was seen leaving the F. Loren Winship Drama building on campus between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. Sunday. The first-year dance student texted her roommate saying she was on the way to their dorm room, police say.
Weiser's friends reported her missing the following morning. Her body was found in Waller Creek on Tuesday, an area between her dorm and the drama building.
The murder has shocked the campus of 50,000 students.
"I can't help but be angry and saddened at the loss of a brilliant talent," Charles O. Anderson, one of Weiser's dance instructors, told CBS News.
The suspect's grandmother told CBS affiliate KSLA that Criner had been under psychiatric care since he was a child. She described him as a well-mannered kid until someone made him mad -- and then he'd snap.