David Eisenhauer: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

David Eisenhauer Facebook page

David Eisenhauer pictured on his Facebook page.

An 18-year-old star Virginia Tech athlete from Maryland has been arrested in connection to the disappearance of a 13-year-old in Virginia. Authorities announced on January 30 that they had arrested David Eisenhauer in relation to the disappearance of Nicole Madison Lovell. She was last seen in the town of Blacksburg on January 27. Eisenhauer was first charged with felony abduction. Hours after the arrest, police found the body of Nicole Lovell in Surrey County, North Carolina. The college freshman’s charges was then also accused of first-degree murder. Less than 24 hours after those charges were laid, police announced the arrest of another Virginia Tech student in relation to death of Nicole Lovell. That student was named as sophomore Natalie Marie Keepers.

Here’s what you need to know:


1. He Is Being Held Without Bail

Nicole Lovell Missing

(Handout)

Fox DC reports that Eisenhauer was taken into custody in Montgomery County, Virginia, on the morning of January 30. He’s being held without bond. Eisenhauer was arrested without incident. In a Facebook post later that day, Lovell’s father, David said that his daughter had been found dead.

He wrote, “Devastated to learn that my daughter has been found dead! I’m so in shock I know nothing more to say, I’m broken!” Police have said that Eisenhauer knew Lovell before he abducted her but didn’t go into more specifics. The Washington Post reports that the pair met on an alternative dating website.

David Lovell Facebook post Nicole Lovell Dead

(Facebook)


Police said Lovell was not shot, but have not released a cause of death, according to the Associated Press.

Eisenhauer, who has no criminal record, appeared in court for the first time Monday with a court-appointed attorney.

Police say he has not confessed and did not help them find Lovell’s body.


2. Eisenhauer Has Been Suspended From His Engineering Degree at Virginia Tech

David Eisenhauer

(Blacksburg Police Department)

Eisenhauer is a freshman student at Virginia Tech where he studies engineering. After news of his arrest broke, the Virginia Tech Police Department released a statement saying:

The entire Virginia Tech community extends its support to Nichole’s family and friends. The university is also reaching out to our campus community and the greater New River Valley community who may be affected by the events that have occurred over the past several days.

Eisenhauer was a member of the school’s track team. As of January 30, 2015, he has been removed from the squad’s roster. He has been placed on “immediate interim suspension” following his arrest.


3. Lovell Had a Liver Transplant & Required Daily Medication

Nicole Lovell was last seen at her home at some time between midnight and 7 a.m. on January 27. Speaking to the Roanoke Times, Lovell’s mother, Tammy Weeks, simply said, “It just not a good time right now.” The newspaper reports that Lovell’s family believe that she climbed out a window at here Lantern Ridge apartment complex. The teenager has a liver condition that requires daily medication. She was last active on her Facebook page on the morning of January 26. The Times notes that Lovell was “participating in several “teen dating” Facebook groups.”

In an interview with WDBJ on January 29, David Lovell said that he was “scared to death” that his daughter was missing. He said, “At this point, I know she is sick. She’s hurting. She’s probably already into convulsions. Her liver is shutting down as we speak. Wherever she is.”

During that same interview, David Lovell added that he was separated from his daughter’s mother and didn’t live with the family. The last time he spoke with the teenager was two weeks prior to her disappearance. She wrote in a text message, “Hi, I love you, things are good.” The Washington Post spoke to Lovell’s stepmother. She said that the teenager had been bullied in school because of her looks and that she was ashamed of her surgery scars.


4. Eisenhauer Was a 3-Time State Track Champion in High School

David Eisenhauer Facebook page

(Facebook)

In April 2015, the Baltimore Sun wrote an article about Eisenhauer being named Howard County boys indoor track Athlete of the Year. That feature details Eisenhauer’s illustrious athletic career. He was a three-time state champion and was all-state in cross country.


5. Eisenhauer Moved to Maryland From Rural Washington in 2013

According to a report from ABC Baltimore, Eisenhauer is a native of Washington State and transferred to Wilde Lake High School in Maryland in 2013. That feature notes that he “made a name for himself right away.” His high school in rural Washington had just 83 students.