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Sorority shaken by student death
Alpha Phi members mourn the loss of a friend and sister Top of page
By: Shanee Warden & Nicole Bissett, Staff Writers
Posted: 5/9/07
San Diego State students and members of the Greek community
are mourning the loss of schoolmate and Alpha Phi member Shirley Jennifer
Poliakoff, a 19-year-old undeclared freshman who was found dead early in the
morning of May 6 in her Aztec Corner apartment.
Poliakoff, who many called "Jenny," returned to her apartment on May 6 after
attending her sorority's formal the previous night. At about 9:40 a.m.,
Poliakoff's brother, who lived with her in the apartment, found her dead in her
bedroom, University Police Lt. Robert McManus said.
One of Poliakoff's neighbors, an SDSU student and did not want to be named, said
she woke up on May 6 hearing screams and cries.
"There were about 10 to 15 sorority girls and some family members standing
around crying," the neighbor said.
McManus said there was no indication that Poliakoff was a victim of a crime; as
of May 8, her death is ruled accidental. Alcohol may have been a factor, but
results from the medical examiner's office with the official cause of death were
not released as of May 8.
Her sorority sisters were shocked to hear the news of her death.
The chapter dispatched two regional officers who arrived in San Diego on May 6.
The officers and Alpha Phi International officials will work with the chapter
and its members to provide whatever support may be necessary, Doug Case, the
coordinator for the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life, said in a
statement.
"Their (Alpha Phi) national has instructed them not to talk about this," Case
said. "Once they have a more definitive cause of death, they will release that."
Alpha Phi has pledged to the university that it will cooperate in any
investigation of the circumstances surrounding Poliakoff's death, Case said.
Alpha Phi members hosted a memorial at about 8 p.m. on May 7 at their house.
"Jenny's death, a young person in the prime of life, is difficult to understand
or accept," Susan Zabriskie, the executive director of Alpha Phi International,
said in a statement. "Alpha Phi joins the Poliakoff family and the San Diego
State community in mourning her death."
Alpha Phi has arranged for grief counselors to be available to the chapter.
Hundreds of Poliakoff's friends created Facebook groups in memory of her. One
comment reads: "You affected so many people here with your big smile and kind
words … "
Her parents, Ray and Kim, told NBC News KNSD that they will never have the
perfect answer to the question of how she died. … They had the perfect daughter
and hope her death will be a reminder to hold your loved ones close.
© Copyright 2007 The Daily Aztec
SAN DIEGO -- Hundreds of mourners gathered Monday night to grieve for a teen who was found dead in her apartment over the weekend.
Police are investigating the death of Shirley Jennifer Poliakoff, a San Diego State University student who was found dead over the weekend.
Shirley Jennifer Poliakoff, known as Jenny, was found dead Sunday morning in her bedroom. Detectives said her brother discovered her body in her off-campus apartment in the 5500 block of Montezuma Road.
A memorial service for Poliakoff was held Monday in Poway.
Campus police said Poliakoff, 19, came home late Saturday night with friends after attending several social events.
Residents in the area said they are shocked by Poliakoff's death.
"It's surprising that you could be so young," SDSU student Cayla Awalt said. "I feel bad for her brother, who walked in on her. That's horrible."
Medical examiner's Investigators said the cause of death has not been determined, but alcohol may have been a factor. Foul play is not suspected, police said.
Poliakoff's parents live in Poway. They said they will never have the perfect answer to the question of how she died. But they said they had the perfect daughter and hope her death will be a reminder to hold your loved ones close.
© Copyright 2007 The Daily Aztec
Hundreds Mourn Coed Found In SoCal Apartment Top of page
POSTED: 5:29 pm PDT May 7, 2007
UPDATED: 5:59 pm PDT May 7, 2007
SAN DIEGO -- Hundreds of mourners gathered Monday
night in Poway, Calif., to grieve for a teen who was found dead in her apartment
over the weekend.
Police are investigating the death of Shirley Jennifer Poliakoff, a San Diego
State University student who was found dead over the weekend.
Shirley Jennifer Poliakoff, known as Jenny, was found dead Sunday morning in her bedroom. Detectives said her brother discovered her body in her off-campus apartment in the 5500 block of Montezuma Road.
A memorial service for Poliakoff was held Monday in Poway.
Campus police said Poliakoff, 19, came home late Saturday night with friends after attending several social events.
Residents in the area said they are shocked by Poliakoff's death.
"It's surprising that you could be so young," SDSU student Cayla Awalt said. "I feel bad for her brother, who walked in on her. That's horrible."
Medical examiner's Investigators said the cause of death has not been determined, but alcohol may have been a factor. Foul play is not suspected, police said.
Poliakoff's parents live in Poway. They said they will never have the perfect answer to the question of how she died. But they said they had the perfect daughter and hope her death will be a reminder to hold your loved ones close.
Copyright 2007 by NBC11.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
6/12/07
NBCSanDiego.com
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Coed's Death Due To Drugs, Alcohol
Officials with the medical examiner's office have released the results of an autopsy performed on an SDSU student who was found dead in her apartment.
Authorities confirmed to NBC 7/39 that the cause of Shirley Jennifer Poliakoff's death was acute cocaine and alcohol intoxication.
The 19-year-old San Diego State University student was found dead in her bedroom. Detectives said her brother discovered her body in her off-campus apartment in the 5500 block of Montezuma Road.
Campus police said Poliakoff came home late on the night of May 5 with friends after attending several social events.
Residents in the area told NBC 7/39 shortly after Poliakoff's death that they were shocked by what had happened.
"It's surprising that you could be so young," SDSU student Cayla Awalt said. "I feel bad for her brother, who walked in on her. That's horrible."
Hundreds of mourners gathered on May 7 to grieve at a memorial service for Poliakoff in Poway, where her parents lived.
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