CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky college student's death has left the Campbellsville community shaken.
Josiah Kilman, 18, died in the hospital after being found unresponsive in his dorm room at Campbellsville University on Saturday. He was a member of the university's wrestling team.
Less than 24 hours after his death, another student and teammate, 21-year-old Charles Escalera was arrested and charged with murder. He is also charged with burglary. Authorities said he broke into someone's home and stole food while on the run from police after Kilman's death.
Escalera's bond has been set at $2 million for the murder charge and $25,000 for the burglary charge.
An autopsy confirmed Kilman had died from asphyxia or strangulation.
Seth Russell, a student at Campbellsville University, said Campbellsville is a community where everybody knows everybody. He said customers at a local business down the street have been talking about Josiah all day Monday.
"I've had questions from everybody. People coming in concerned," he said. "I don't know, no one really has any answers, so everyone has the same things to say. But you can tell that everyone needs to talk."
Russell said he's just as much in disbelief as everyone else. He said he met Josiah last Thursday, just days before the murder.
"From the few times I did talk to him, he was awesome," Russell recalled. "I didn't really get to meet him very much, which is kind of a weird thing -- when you just talk to somebody and then all of a sudden they're just gone like that."
Dr. Joe Hopkins, president of Campbellsville University, spoke to the media on Monday. He said Josiah was "a bright light with an incredible testimony."
"He came to us from Montana where he already was known as a person with Christian character," Hopkins said.
Hopkins said this tragedy is one that has broken the community's heart.
"This shakes us, that this can happen even in this beautiful place of quiet and beauty," he said. "But it does remind us that we must always be on guard and I'm thankful for those who stand in that place of protection every day."
The university said moving forward will not be easy. Another student on campus told WHAS11 that classes on Monday were mostly empty and that he hopes they can find ways to comfort each other.
"I hate that it takes something like this, but I just hope that we kind of keep an eye out for little things and that we can all come together," Kadin Switzer said. "Take this to not only be with the wrestling team, but to be with all of the people he touched -- FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and all the Christian campus activities he was involved in and help bring those together."
The university said professional counseling services are available to students and faculty who are struggling with this loss.
Kilman's family has a GoFundMe set up to help pay for the costs of transporting him back home to Montana and burial expenses.
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