Parents of EMU student found dead in her apartment says daughter was full of life and love

YPSILANTI, Mich (wxyz) - Jim and Kim Turnquist are understandably heartbroken over the death of their 23-year-old daughter Julie Niswender.

She was found dead in the locked bedroom of her apartment in Ypsilanti, an apartment she shared with two other women.

One of her roommates called police when she hadn't seen Julia in two days and the alarm clock in Julia's bedroom kept going off.

Julia's mom and dad say when they realized she hadn't been seen and she had not been to work since Sunday, they started to really worry.

"I called her cell phone and it was dead, then I called my husband and then the panic set in, " says Julia's mom, Kim.

Jim, Julia's father, said through tears: " For years, I have seen parents in front of the camera and never wanted it to be me and now, I am living it."

Both Jim and Kim says Julia was so full of life and love and, they say, she was caring and trusting.  They are desperately seeking answers.

Police are calling the death suspicious --a homicide-- which means it was not a natural death, but they won't say much more.

Her parents and police are asking that if anyone knows anything about what happened to Julia Niswender to please come forward or call crime stoppers at 1-800-speak up.

Even though city police are handling the case, university police say they will increase patrols in the area and all over campus.

Julia's family has set up a trust fund in her honor at any Monroe Bank & Trust, under the Julia Niswender Benefit Fund. The Rupp Funeral Home in Monroe is handling the funeral arrangements.