Josiah Kilman, an 18-year-old freshman theology student at Campbellsville University, Kentucky, was discovered unresponsive in his dormitory room early on Saturday, February 24, 2024. The local authorities rushed Kilman to Taylor Regional Hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival.
Charles Escalera, a 21-year-old sophomore pre-engineering student at the same university, was arrested later the same day by the Green County Sheriff’s office concerning Kilman’s death. Escalera was taken into custody without any issues following a report of a suspicious person inside a barn near the border of Green and Taylor Counties. He confessed to authorities that he had broken into the barn to steal food.
The Taylor County Detention Center is currently holding Escalera, who faces charges of murder and burglary. It was reported that both Escalera and Kilman were part of the wrestling team at Campbellsville University.
Taylor County Coroner Daniel Cook identified the cause of death as manual strangulation.
Kilman hailed from Columbia Falls, Montana, while Escalera is a native of Moore, Oklahoma. Campbellsville University is a private, Christian institution in central Kentucky and has a student population of approximately 12,000.
Dr. Joseph Hopkins, President of Campbellsville University, expressed the university’s deep sorrow over Kilman’s death and affirmed its commitment to student safety. “Campbellsville University is mourning the loss of a member of our community. The death of a student is a heartrending event,” Hopkins said.
He underscored the university’s commitment to the safety of its community members and pledged to cooperate with law enforcement to install necessary security measures. However, the specifics of these safety enhancements were not outlined in his statement.
Despite the tragic event, the university confirmed that all scheduled classes, events, and activities would continue as planned.
The death of Kilman adds to the growing list of recent fatalities on college campuses across the United States, highlighting the ongoing struggle to ensure campus safety.
The university community is united in grief over the loss of Kilman, whom President Hopkins described as a beacon of hope. A prayer vigil was held in Kilman’s memory, reflecting on his life and contributions to the university and its wrestling team. This tragedy has sparked a collective call for improved safety measures and support systems to prevent future incidents of this nature.