A 17-year-old homeless person has been charged with murder in the death of an 18-year-old University of Texas student on the campus in Austin.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo announced at a news conference Friday that Meechaiel Criner was taken into custody at a shelter for homeless youth. He is accused of killing Haruka Weiser, 18, a first-year theater and dance student from Portland, Ore.
Firefighters responding to a trash fire in Austin Monday afternoon came upon Criner at the scene and after they determined he was homeless, police took him to the shelter. Later, the firefighters saw surveillance video from the university of the area where the woman was slain and reported to police that the homeless youth resembled the person on the video.
Criner was found to be in possession of a bicycle, duffel bag and other items that resembled ones belonging to Weiser.
Weiser was reported missing Monday morning, and officers discovered her body on the campus in Waller Creek behind the alumni center.
Video of news conference announcing suspect's arrest:
