Erin Robinson, a criminal justice senior, center, pauses while reading a press release about the death of Don Ausman at a town hall meeting at the Spartan Village Community Center Wednesday evening. Counselors were on hand to speak with anyone affected by the death and police took questions about the ongoing investigation of what they have termed a “suspicious” death. Robinson, who knew Ausman, said he always had an upbeat attitude and raised money for HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment.
The death of an MSU student found in his Spartan Village apartment was not being treated as a homicide, MSU police said Wednesday night.
Police found the body of Don Ausman, a 22-year-old interdisciplinary studies in social science and international studies senior, in his apartment after responding to a call to report a suspicious death at about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday at the 1615 building off Crescent Road in Spartan Village.
As of Wednesday night, police had not released information about the cause of death, but said they had no reason to believe the community was at risk.
During a town hall meeting Wednesday night at the Spartan Village Community Center, MSU police Sgt. Shaun Mills said police are not investigating Ausman’s death as a homicide.
“Right now, we’re not looking for any one person or persons,” Mills said.
MSU police crime scene investigation units were investigating Ausman’s apartment into Wednesday evening. MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said Ausman’s autopsy is scheduled for today.
Ausman, of Northville, Mich., had quit his job at Clara’s Lansing Station, 637 E. Michigan Ave., just last week, manager Jennifer Elmer said.
Elmer said she last saw Ausman on Sunday and said he appeared to be in great spirits.
“He just seemed fine and was really very happy and smiling,” Elmer said. “I gave him a real big hug when I saw him. This is just a huge tragedy.”
McGlothian-Taylor said police had notified Ausman’s family. The family could not be reached for comment Wednesday by The State News.
Dave Morris, a history senior, lived in the apartment directly above Ausman. Morris said he was shocked to hear about Ausman’s death, and said he had no reason to believe anything was wrong until his roommate told him about a crime alert MSU police distributed via e-mail and text message.
Morris said he and his roommate were not particularly close with Ausman, but the two had been to Ausman’s apartment before. He said Ausman was friendly with both of them.
“(Ausman and his roommate) would have parties over the summer,” Morris said. “He was a good guy.”
About 25 people attended the town hall meeting Wednesday night to seek more information about Ausman’s death.
In addition to questioning Mills about the police investigation, those in attendance were given information from the MSU Counseling Center about how to contact grief counselors.
Several of Ausman’s neighbors attended the meeting looking for answers, but Mills said he could not give more specific details than what had already been released.
Elmer said she was in shock over the news of Ausman’s death. She said Ausman was loved by co-workers and will be missed.
“Don was just a very happy, generous person who was so wonderful and full of life,” Elmer said.
“He was a great kid that people loved. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Don.”
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