The body found on the Yale campus hidden in the wall of a lab building has been officially identified today as that of Annie Le, the young Yale graduate student from El Dorado County.
In a statement released by the Connecticut's chief medical examiner, Le's death was labeled a homicide, though officials stopped short of releasing a cause.
"The manner of death has been classified as homicide, and in order to facilitate the investigation, we are temporarily not releasing the cause of death," the statement read.
That announcement came as a somber mood pervaded Union Mine High School in the community of El Dorado as students and faculty reflected on the death of Le, who graduated from Union Mine in 2003.
Nothing is yet planned at Le's high school ala mater to formally remember her. However, it is expected that some kind of event will occur, said principal Tony DeVille.
"We are just in a state of shock," said Deville.
Sunday night on Facebook, Chris Le -- a UC Davis student and Annie Le's younger brother -- posted his thanks on a board set up to remember his sister.
"As a family, we take solace in the fact that though she is gone, she left this world doing what she loved," he wrote. "She may be small, but she be fierce. Stuck in a 4'11" frame, she had a 7' tall personality. She will always live on through us."
An uncle, who lives in Austin, Texas, also posted his gratitude for the public's support and prayers.
Le's body was found Sunday, the day she was scheduled to be married.
"Based on what I've heard about Annie, she was not the kind of person who would get cold feet," said DeVille. "I think in the back of our minds we knew something bad was going to come out of this. But when you actually hear the news that it has turned out badly, it is just devastating."
When young graduates leave and do as well as Le, it is a real source of pride at Union Mine, said DeVille.
"She had a great potential to perhaps change the world," he said. "Now that person will not have that opportunity. She was well-liked and well-rounded -- a shining star and an academic star."
New Haven, Conn., police said they have no suspects in the killing.
Officer Joe Avery of the New Haven Police Department said reports that someone was in custody or that a person questioned in the Le case had failed a polygraph test were false.
"Regardless as to what the news stations have been reporting, there are no suspects in custody," said Avery today.
He said students are not in danger but cautioned them to be on guard.
"We are not looking at it as if it were a random act," said Avery. "I don't think anybody out there really has to worry too much. But they should take their proper precautions."
Avery said that about 100 officers and other staff are assigned to the case.
The Bee's Anita Creamer contributed to this report.
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.
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