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Police, family seek help in investigation of student's death

LEANIN; MAYOR BLAAA BLAAA attends a police meeting      (Photo by Scott Stuk)
LEANIN; MAYOR BLAAA BLAAA attends a police meeting (Photo by Scott Stuk)

Accompanied by family, Karen Montenegro pleaded for her daughter’s killer to step forward.

“Whoever did this, if you hear me, please just turn yourself in,” she said, fighting back tears. “And I will somehow in my heart try to forgive you.”

Her daughter, Kyleigh Sousa, was dragged by a car near the intersection of South College Avenue and Apache Boulevard early Wednesday after a man stole her purse. Sousa, a pre-law junior, sustained injuries leaving her bruised and battered, and was pronounced brain-dead later in the evening.

“There is no surgery that can put her back together,” Montenegro said Thursday, joining Tempe Police and community leaders to ask for the city’s help in finding the people involved with the incident. “She’s never going to wake up. Never.”

Sousa and a friend were walking to the International House of Pancakes at 225 E. Apache Blvd. around 2 a.m. when a silver Chrysler 300 or Dodge Charger approached, police said. Sousa spoke with a man — described as “heavy-set” — who grabbed her purse from inside his vehicle.

Sousa became entangled with her purse as the man attempted to drive off and was dragged alongside the car, police said.

Sgt. Steve Carbajal, a Tempe Police spokesman, said investigators believe multiple suspects were in the vehicle at the time of the incident, although they don’t know how many. The suspects have yet to be identified.

Tempe Police would not disclose details of the ongoing investigation, instead taking the opportunity to ask someone who might have information to come forward.

Tempe Assistant Police Chief John Rush said the case is being investigated as a homicide, working with the ASU Police Department. Rush also requested assistance from the people of Tempe.

“Today, we’re here to reach out to the community,” Rush said. “We do need everyone’s help.”

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman lent his support to the family and condemned those who committed the crime, calling them “absolute cowards.”

Hallman pleaded for those who might know something to step forward.

“If you were anywhere near … this crime, if you know people who may have been involved, please step forward,” Hallman said. “Don’t join these perpetrators in their cowardice. We need your help.”

Rush imparted a message for those who might assist the suspects.

“I want to make it real clear that if you are protecting these individuals as well, not only will we be coming after the suspects responsible for this cowardly, tragic incident, but we will be coming after whoever is protecting these individuals as well,” Rush said.

ASU Assistant Chief of Police Jay Spradling said the ASU community is both “shocked and saddened” by the incident.

Sousa’s family traveled from New Jersey after hearing of the incident and encouraged the community to come forward with information that could assist police. They said they intend to donate her organs so that others could benefit from this tragedy.

“Kyleigh was such a young and wonderful woman,” said Nick Montenegro, Sousa’s stepfather. “[She was] full of energy, full of life and enjoyed life.”

Bill Zitzow, Sousa’s grandfather, expressed sorrow in the wake of his family’s loss.

“It’s a shame Kyleigh didn’t live long enough to fulfill her life,” Zitzow said. “I’m going to miss her as a grandfather tremendously.”

Investigators encourage anyone with information regarding the case to contact Tempe police at 480-350-8311 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

Reach the reporter at joseph.schmidt@asu.edu.


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