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Bluefieldnews.net
For HNN by Yuta Usuda
A Marshall University softball player was found dead late Wednesday evening in the team's locker room in Gullickson Hall on the campus, Dave Wellman, director of the University Communications, said.
James E. Terry, director of Marshall's Public Safety, said her teammate had found at about 9:45 p.m. Dana Marie Black, sophomore criminal justice major, hanging herself.
"It was an unattended death," Terry said. There was no evidence of foul play, and other students are safe in the building, he added.
Wellman said Cabell County Medical Examiner Cater Payne pronounced the 19-year-old from Racho Cucamanga, Calif., which is near Los Angeles, had died at the scene.
"It's very sad," Wellman said. "It's heartbreaking for her family. We are very sympathetic to the family." Black's father is on his way to Huntington, Wellman added.
The softball team members canceled practice Feb.28 and gathered on the Softball Field early afternoon, Wellman said. They formed Black's player number "5" on her shortstop position by putting flowers.
The softball team has cancelled this weekend's trip to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where the team was scheduled to play six games from Mar.1 to 3, Wellman said.
The Public Safety closed the investigation and the body has been released to Reger Funeral Home, Wellman said. Gullickson Hall has been unlocked as usual after the investigation.
The university has not found the reason of why she had to die, Wellman said. "I don't think anybody knows," he said.
An unattended death on campus has happened before, but "it's very rare," Wellman said.
The university will have Black's memorial at 6:30 p.m. Mar. 1 at the Campus Christian Center. It is open to the public.
The school's sports Web site shows more information about Black at
http://www.herdzone.com/sports/softball/bio.asp?PLAYER_ID=1025.
