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Samantha Josephson decided to call an Uber Friday around 2 am after being separated from her roommates at a party in Columbia, South Carolina, police said Saturday.
The 21-year-old former University of South Carolina, riding aboard a black Chevrolet Impala, thought it was his turn, the Columbia Police Chief, WH. "Skip," said Holbrook at a press conference.
About 14 hours later, turkey hunters found his body in a field 90 kilometers from Columbia, he said.
"What we do know now is that she had actually summoned an Uber ride and that she was waiting for it to come," Holbrook said, citing surveillance footage. "We think that she just mistakenly got into that car thinking that it was an Uber race."
Nathaniel David Rowland, 24, was arrested for murder and kidnapping in connection with Josephson's death, Holbrook said. He is being held in prison in Colombia. CNN has not yet determined whether he has a lawyer.
Holbrook said that he had spoken with Josephson's family before the press conference.
"Our hearts are broken, they are broken, there is nothing more difficult than standing in front of a family and explaining how a loved one was murdered," he said. "It was heartbreaking, the words really can not describe what they're going through."
The chief says that the blood of a student found in the suspect's car
Holbrook described how the case came together quickly.
The Josephson roommates began to worry about not hearing him later on Friday morning. Holbrook said, and they called the police around 1:30 pm. Friday.
As Columbia police began their investigation, turkey hunters found a body around 4 pm Friday, about 40 feet from a dirt road in a wooded area of Clarendon County, southeast of Columbia, Holbrook said. It has been identified as Josephson's.
The police searched for the car that Josephson had embarked around 3 am on Saturday. An officer from Colombia saw the Impala and stopped the vehicle, Holbrook said. When the policeman asked the driver to get out of the car, he ran but was quickly captured, said the chief.
The investigators searched the Impala.
The blood found on the passenger side and the trunk of the car matched that of Josephson, said the chief, and his mobile phone was found in the passenger compartment. Investigators also found a container of bleach, germicidal wipes and window cleaner in the vehicle, he said.
Holbrook also said that Impala's child safety locks were turned on, which would make it difficult for anyone to open the back doors from the inside.
The police did not explain how Josephson died and did not provide much information about Rowland except to say that he lived in Clarendon County and that he knew the area where the body was found.
"Our investigators and agents still have a lot of work to do," Holbrook said.
CNN contacted Uber on Saturday, but the company declined to comment.
Uber Online Safety Tips
advise drivers to check that the license plate, the driver's photo and the driver's name match what is shown in the application before getting into the car.
& # 39; Find words of wisdom and comfort & # 39;
Josephson's father, Seymour Josephson of New Jersey, confirmed the death of his daughter Saturday on Facebook.
"It is with great sadness and a broken heart that I publish this I will miss and love my little girl for the rest of my life Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be for nothing (sic). It is extremely difficult to write this and to post it but I love it with all my heart I could go on writing about it but it kills me I sit here and I cry looking at the picture and write this, "reads his ticket.
Josephson was a political science student, said the USC College of Arts and Sciences on Twitter.
"Our prayers are going to Samantha's family and friends and we are joining the entire Carolina family in this time of mourning," the college's tweet said.
USC President Harris Pastides
published a statement
"Our prayers are with the family and friends of Samantha Josephson following the devastating announcement of her death, and moments like these let me look for words of wisdom and comfort."
Pastides also advised students to "watch each other, to be active bystanders, travel in groups and stay together".
Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin said: "Nothing dispels the pain of losing a child, but I have full confidence in the men and women of the Columbia Police Department and SLED who are competently investigating this tragedy. "
According to Josephson's father's Facebook page, the family lives in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, about 10 km east of Trenton.
Subsidiary of CNN, WACH-TV
reported. Robbinsville Township has also posted a Facebook statement about Josephson.
"Mayor Dave Fried, BA Joy Tozzi and everyone in Robbinsville Township are devastated by the announcement that the Josephson family of Robbinsville has lost their precious Samantha – our thoughts, our prayers, our boundless grief and our Endless support is with Seymour, Marci and Sydney in this unimaginable time, "the statement said.
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