Hyderabad teen found strangled to death in a car at a US university parking lot

A 19-year-old woman with roots in Hyderabad was found strangled to death in a vehicle at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) campus parking lot in the United States on November 24. She was found in an unresponsive state, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said on Sunday.

The family members of the deceased, Ruth George, who live in the Naperville area of Illinois, reported her missing on Saturday, saying they had not heard from her since Friday evening. The police tracked her phone and found her body in the family-owned vehicle.

Officials said George was a victim of foul play, and she entered the parking lot alone at 1.30 am on Sunday for unknown reasons. A suspect, who is now in custody, entered soon after. The police said they are working with state and federal agencies on the investigation.

George, whose family has roots in Secunderabad, graduated from Naperville Central High School in 2018 before joining UIC to study kinesiology. She aspired to become a medical professional.

Her sudden demise left her relatives in deep shock. Sunaina Deborah, a nurse at a Hyderabad-based hospital, confirmed to TNIE that George was her cousin, but didn't divulge details regarding the investigation.

Earlier, Deborah took to Facebook to express her grief. “Dearest Ruthie baby…. we miss you…just not able to believe you’re no more.. You were a loving and wonderful daughter, sister and cousin..Rest in peace Ruth George … we love you,” she posted along with a video of George speaking in church.

Samantha Sanders, a friend, wrote: "Ruth George was the sweetest person I knew, who I knew was always there and always a smiling face who did not deserve to go out like this. Rest in Peace Ruth."