in death investigation of TSU student

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

A special session of the Pike County Grand Jury has been ordered and will convene next week to hear evidence in the death investigation of Brandi Hobson, the 17-year-old Troy State University freshman from Clio whose body was discovered on Sept. 3.

The Pike County Grand Jury will meet Thursday, Sept. 20.

Hobson’s body was found just after midnight that Monday by her parents in room 111 of the all-female Clements Hall. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Pike County Coroner Jerry Williams.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Troy Police Department, Troy State University Police Department, Department of Forensic Sciences and the District Attorney’s Office of the 12th Judicial Circuit.

District Attorney Mark Fuller, in a released statement, said he expects the Grand Jury to report late Thursday afternoon on this particular case.

Last week, TSU officials said, "the initial impression by several people at the scene of her death was that there were no overt signs of struggle. However, when the evidence gathered was evaluated, indications were that further in-depth investigation was needed."

An autopsy was conducted to determine the cause of Hobson’s death, but the cause of death is not being released at this time because of the special session of the Grand Jury.

After much speculation by the public, authorities did, last week, say there was no evidence of an unknown assailant or perpetrator. They also reported Hobson’s death was not the result of use by any weapons and that there was no apparent break-in or signs of struggle.