“No cause of death yet for woman found in Museum District”

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – It could be weeks before we know the official cause of a death for a woman found in a parking lot off Nansemond Street in Richmond’s Museum District.

According to search warrants, 20-year-old Jessica Pascual was found lying face down with tire marks on her body.

The medical examiner is waiting on toxicology reports to determine if Pascual died before or after she was run over. Police say the report could take weeks.

Here is the link to the release posted on July 1, 2009: http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=10626362&nav=menu128_2

A Richmond Police affidavit for search warrant was issused in the death of 20-year-old Jessica Lynn Pascual. According to the language used, it appears police believe she may have been murdered.

The affidavit says the warrant was issued to search, “The things or persons or any evidence related to the murder of Jessica Lynn Pascual.”

The search was conducted in her apartment building on Kensington Avenue in Richmond’s Museum district.

Police searched for DNA evidence. They found marijuana, drug baggies, and drug paraphernalia.

Police were called to Pascual’s apartment, June 10 after getting a call from a woman who said she saw the victim’s body, face down, in a parking lot. The woman told police Pascual had no pulse and was lying in a puddle of something wet.

Police say 20-year-old had a number of tire tracks covering her body. There was also a cell phone under her leg, the warrant says and blood smears on the apartment building.

The warrant says police spoke to Pascual’s roommate, Marshall H. Pitts, who confirmed her identity and said the dead girl came home between 11:00 p.m. and midnight and was drunk and belligerent.

Pitts says he walked her to a friend’s house and never saw her again.

CBS 6 spoke with Commonwealth’s Attorney, Mike Herring, who says his office is not calling the case a murder yet, and isn’t aware that police have confirmed it to be a homicide yet either.

The following is a press release from the Richmond Police Department:

The Richmond Police Department has identified the woman found deceased yesterday as Jessica L. Pascual, 20, of the 3400 block of Kensington Avenue.

She was found shortly after 6 a.m. near her residence.

The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine her cause of death.

No further updates are available at this time.

WRIC Ch.8 reports the young woman’s name as Jessica L. Pascual. Can the post be updated please?

Reports of fighting and a dead woman? It’s possible that it was a domestic dispute. Statistically, women are more likely to be killed by their signifcant other than anyone else–people need to be aware of and talk about things like this.