Who is Josiah Kilman Campbellsville University?

Josiah Kilman is a Campbellsville University student who was found dead on the school’s campus, reportedly murdered by another student.

18-year-old Josiah Malachi Kilman was found unresponsive on the University campus around 12am Saturday, February 24th 2024.

He was pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital.

Authorities have issued a warrant for 21-year-old Charles E. Escalera aka Zeke Escalera for the murder of Josiah Kilman.

According to preliminary autopsy results, Kilman died of asphyxia by manual strangulation.

In this article, we learn all about this tragedy involving Josiah Kilman at Campbellsville University.

Let’s dive right in!

Who was Josiah Malachi Kilman Campbellsville University?

Josiah Kilman was a Campbellsville University student found dead on the school campus on Saturday, February 24th 2024.

According to preliminary autopsy results, Kilman died of asphyxia by manual strangulation.

A statement from the Taylor County Coroner’s office read…

On Friday, February 24, 2024 at approximately 12:43 a.m, the Emergency Communication Center received a call of a male individual who was unresponsive & not breathing on the campus of Campbellsville University.

Campbellsville Fire/EMS & Campbellsville Police arrived and transported the male to Taylor Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased by our office. The decedent was identified as Josiah Kilman, 18 of Columbia Falls, MT.

Kilman was a student currently at Campbellsville University.

Mr. Kilman was transported to the Kentucky State Examiners Office for an autopsy.

The preliminary results show that the cause of death for Kilman was Asphyxia by Manual Strangulation.

Following the discovery of Kilman’s body, an initial statement from the University read…

“On Saturday, February 24, 2024 at approximately 12:43 AM, Campbellsville Police responded to Campbellsville University Campus in reference to an unresponsive male. Taylor County EMS arrived and transported the male to Taylor Regional Hospital where he was pronounced deceased by Taylor County Coroner, Daniel Cook.

“The deceased, 18-year old Josiah Malachi Kilman, was transported to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville for an autopsy.

“During the investigation, Campbellsville Police has obtained an arrest warrant for, “21-year old Charles E. Escalera for Murder. Escalera is still at large, however Campbellsville Police, Kentucky State Police, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife are currently attempting to locate Escalera.

“The following attached pictures are of 21 year old, Charles E. Escalera, 5′ 7”, 128 lbs, brown hair, and brown eyes. Last seen wearing a black jacket, white hooded shirt, gray toboggan, gray sweat pants, yellowish colored work boots, and a dark colored backpack.

“Last known was in the parking lot of Lowe’s in Campbellsville.

“If you see or know the whereabouts of Escalera, do not approach him, call 911 immediately.

Agencies Involved in the search for the killer of Josiah Kilman include Campbellsville Police, Kentucky State Police, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky.
Department of Fish and Wildlife, Campbellsville Fire, Campbellsville Taylor-County EMS, and Taylor County Coroner’s Office.

Josiah Kilman, per our checks, is a Freshman at Campbellsville University from Montana.

Josiah Kilman was an athlete who competed in the Campbellsville University wrestling program at the 149 lb class.

May he rest in peace.

Prior to the above release, the university released an earlier statement.

“Campbellsville University Releases Statement Following Death of Student,” the release was titled.

Campbellsville, Ky. – A male student was discovered unresponsive in their dorm room, on the campus of Campbellsville University, in the early morning hours on Saturday, February 24.

“The cause of death has not been determined. Local law enforcement are looking for an individual considered a person of interest. An official statement will be released around 10 a.m. today, at the Heilman Welcome Center on campus.

At this time, Campbellsville city police have not identified a continued threat to students. However, as a university, we want to use an abundance of caution. We are advising all students and campus area residents to heighten precautions. Secure your residences, secure vehicles, and increase awareness of your surroundings,”

At 5:15 p.m., the Green County Sheriff’s Office and State Police received a call regarding a suspicious person inside a barn near the Green/Taylor county line.

State Police responded and arrested Escalera without incident, according to Campbellsville Police.

“Escalera has been arrested and the arrest warrant will be served for murder,” the department said in a statement. “He will be lodged in the Taylor County Detention Center.”

Josiah Kilman of Campbellsville University was killed by Charles E. Escalera, also a University student

Charles E. Escalera murdered Josiah Kilman

21-year old Escalera is currently on the run.

Police are searching for a person of interest, Escalera, in connection to the death of a Campbellsville University studen, Josiah Kilman.

Campbellsville city police have not identified a continued threat to students, but they have advised all students and campus residents to be on high alert.

Campbellsville University President, Dr. Joseph Hopkins, issued a statement:

“Campbellsville University is grieving the loss of one of our family. We have lost a student and our hearts are broken. During this devastating time, the continued safety of our students and the residents of our community are our primary concern. With consultation from local law enforcement, we will continue to implement every measure necessary to protect and support students and our community.”

“The student counseling center on campus is open and counselors are available to students seeking emotional support during this tragedy. The Ransdell Chapel will be open for students and staff for prayer and support of one another.

“We will continue to release updates in a timely fashion as more information becomes available.

“For questions please contact campus security, Kyle Davis or local Campbellsville Police Chief, Shannon Wilson who is leading the investigation,”

Related – Laken Riley

The death of Josiah Kilman on the Campbellsville University campus comes just about a day following another stunning discovery of a University student’s death.

Laken Hope Riley was a 22-year-old Athens, Ga resident who was found dead on the campus of UGA with visible injuries on her body.

Riley was found in a wooded area near an on-campus lake on Thursday, February 22, 2024.

UGA police received a call from an individual concerned about a friend who went for a run at the campus’ intramural fields and hadn’t returned. The police found the woman unconscious and with visible injuries.

The deceased individual was not a UGA student but was a student at another college.

Whilst authorities did not identify her, we were able through our search to discover the identity of the student – Laken Riley of Athens, Ga.

The Athens-Clarke County coroner confirmed the identity of the deceased as Laken Hope Riley to CNN on Friday.

Coroner Sonny Wilson said Riley’s cause and manner of death are pending an examination of the body set to take place Friday.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old resident of Athens, Georgia, has been arrested and charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another in connection with the murder of Laken Riley.

Ibarra is reportedly an immigrant, in the country illegally from Venezuela.

Laken Riley is a former student of the University of Georgia and left last year to pursue a nursing course at the Augusta University nursing program.

Her mother, Allyson Phillips wrote on Facebook about the moment they received confirmation from Augusta University about her admission to study nursing.

“To say I’m proud of Laken is an understatement! The Dean of Augusta University called her (while she was checking out at Starbucks 😂) to tell her she had been accepted into the nursing program. Laken was so excited!!!” Allyson Phillips wrote on Facebook.

Laken Riley had spent three years at the University of Georgia after joining in August 2020.

Per her LinkedIn account, she also worked as a Tour Guide at Revolution Rail Co. alongside her studies.

Revolution Rail Co. offers railbiking tours, which is a fun excursion activity that allows riders to ride the railroad tracks under their own power and explore the outdoors in a truly unique way, according to its LinkedIn page.

It appears Laken Riley had been doing it all – working and schooling.

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville University (CU) is a private Christian university in Campbellsville, Kentucky. It was founded as Russell Creek Academy and enrolls more than 12,000 students. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees.

In 2014, the university trustees ended its covenant agreement with the Kentucky Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention), but vowed to uphold the ideals.

Campbellsville University traces its origins to the founding in 1906 of Russell Creek Academy by the Russell Creek Baptist Association.

The academy gradually became a junior college in 1924, later developed its offerings and a four-year curriculum, becoming accredited as a college in 1959. With an expansion of graduate programs, in 1996 the college gained university status.

In 2014, the university began to disassociate with the Kentucky Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention) so it could elect trustees independently.

The following year, it entered into a mission partnership with the American Baptist Churches USA.

In February 2017, the CU field house was damaged in a fire. The university planned to raze the old structure and rebuild on the same spot. The new structure was expected to be available in time for the new football season in mid-August.

Campbellsville University was ranked #88 (tie) in the Regional Universities South category of the 2022-23 Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The institution was also named #84 in the Top Performers in Social Mobility category.

The 80-acre (320,000 m2) campus is situated in the center of Kentucky, about a half mile from downtown Campbellsville, population 9,000.

Another portion of the campus, Clay Hill Memorial Forest, is seven miles (11 km) from campus.

It is a 135-acre (0.55 km2) educational and research woodland that is being developed by the Division of Natural Science as a regional center for environmental education and research. Also, Green River Lake, a 10,000-acre (40 km2) recreational state park, is five miles (8.0 km) from campus.

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