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Roommate Discovered Body

NEW YORK -- Police said a Pace University student was found dead in his New York City apartment, apparently strangled with an electrical cord.

Kevin Pravia, 19, was found lying in his bed after police were called to the scene by Pravia's roommate who discovered the body Sunday night just after 6 p.m.

A source told the New York Daily News Pravia's mouth was stuffed with plastic, and there was no evidence of a break-in at the unit.
Pravia was from Pittsfield, Mass. but was living in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan at 239 W. 15th St.

He was a sophomore honors student at Pace University.

Pravia was listed on the Pace University Web site as an honor student and a member of the school's Challenge to Achievement at Pace program, the Daily News reported.

"We have just learned of the death of Kevin Pravia, a sophomore at Pace University, and we are deeply sadden by the news," Pace spokeswoman Cara Halstead told the News. "Our sympathy and thoughts go out to Kevin's family, friends and classmates."

The medical examiner will determine a cause of death. They said although the death looked like a homicide they were not ruling anything out, including suicide.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/17359887/detail.html

 

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Suspect Held In Mass. Student's Brutal Death

NEW YORK (WBZ) ― New York City police say they believe a Massachusetts college student was suffocated by a man he invited to his home. They are questioning the man and say they expect to charge him.

Police say Kevin Pravia, 19, was found in his bed Sunday night with an electric cord around his neck and a bag stuffed into his mouth. He was last seen being helped into a taxi early Saturday after a party. Witnesses told police Pravia appeared intoxicated.

Police say a 22-year-old, being questioned in an unrelated case, has admitted suffocating Pravia with a pillow and stealing his cell phone, laptop and iPod. The man claims Pravia approached him for drugs and then invited him to his apartment.

Pravia, who was a sophomore at Pace University, was from Peru, Mass.

He graduated from Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton in 2007. His aunt, Julia Ford of Dalton, Mass., told the Daily News of New York that Pravia was a great kid and the family was devastated.

http://wbztv.com/local/massachusetts.college.student.2.808330.html