Troubled teen charged with murder in death of University of Texas student; bond set at $1M

AUSTIN, Texas – A teen has been charged in the death of University of Texas student Haruka Weiser, according to Austin police.  Meechaiel Khalil Criner, 17, was booked into the Travis County Jail and his bond has been set at $1 million.

Weiser was last seen leaving the drama building  on campus around 9: 30 p.m. Sunday. She texted her roommate to say she was on her way back to their dormitory, but never made it.  Friends reported her missing on Monday.

Weiser's body was found Tuesday morning in a creek near the school's alumni center. Investigators worked diligently to gather evidence, and on Thursday, police released surveillance video of a person of interest in connection with Weiser's death. The person was seen around 11:30 p.m. on the north side of the football stadium walking a red or pink woman's bicycle.

Weiser's death left the UT community on edge as law enforcement combed the area in search for the suspect. 

Weiser was scheduled to participate in the Dance Repertory Theatre's "Bodies and Souls" performance Friday at the B. Iden Payne Theatre on campus. The dance company said it is putting on a tribute honoring Weiser. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. 

During a press conference Friday morning, Austin police released details of  Criner's arrest.

Austin firefighters responded Monday around 4 p.m. to the 2900 block of Medical Arts Street for a trash fire and found Criner at the scene. Criner was determined to be homeless and taken to a temporary shelter for assistance.  He was also in possession of a woman's bike and police took it for safe keeping.

After the video was released, firefighters told Homicide investigators that the man seen in the video "strongly resembled" the person that was taken to the shelter after the fire.

Authorities reviewed the surveillance video and confirmed Criner's physical appearance and clothing matched the description of the suspect. He also had a blue duffel bag that resembled Weiser's missing bag.

Investigators went back and located the debris from the trash fire and items found matched Weiser's belongings.

Police then went to the homeless shelter and questioned Criner. He was then connected to Weiser's death.

"We are very certain the subject, the suspect, we have in custody is the suspect responsible for the death of this beautiful young woman," Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said.

Acevedo also cautioned students to be aware of their surroundings.

"You young people love to be on your iPhones and iPads or iPods, but it is really important to look when we're out there because unfortunately, there are monsters in society that will do us harm," Acevedo said.

UT President Greg Fenves reassured students that the campus and law enforcement were beefing up security to ensure safety.  He said increased police patrols will continue on campus, and university officials will work closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety to assess campus safety and security to identify possible improvements. He also sent his condolences to Weisner's grieving family.

"Most importantly, I ask that we all continue to support Haruka’s parents, family and classmates as they grieve their beloved daughter and friend. Our mourning is ongoing. Even as we hear new announcements and reports, we must honor Haruka’s life and, as her family said so eloquently yesterday, make her death an occasion to improve safety for others and “find some meaning behind an otherwise senseless and tragic death," Fenves said in a released statement.

Many from the university sang her praises, remembering her as a gifted and talented shining star.

In a letter addressed to the UT community on Thursday, Fenves wrote in part, "Haruka was a beloved member of our dance community, liked and admired by her classmates and respected by professors for her intelligence and spirit. Dance faculty members first met Haruka more than two years ago when she performed at the National High School Dance Festival. They immediately began recruiting her to come to UT from her home in Portland, Oregon. Our community was made better by her decision to join the College of Fine Arts."

A video posted on Vimeo appears to show Weiser during a holiday production with The Portland Ballet:

Digication 1 from Haruka Weiser on Vimeo.

TPB released a statement Thursday, in which Founding Artistic Director Nancy Davis was quoted saying, "Haruka was not only a gifted and talented dancer but a gentle and kind spirit that everyone at TPB loved, teachers and students alike. Our hearts go out to her family and friends."

In 2015, the school said she graduated and was later invited to joint the TPB's Youth Company. It was an invitation she declined because she had an existing commitment to another liberal arts school, according to TPB. "That decision is emblematic of Haruka's maturity and dedication," TPB administrators said in a release.

TPB  said Weiser first attended the school in 2012 after being accepted into its Master's summer program. She was 16 years old at the time. 

“We cried all day yesterday,” said Jaelynn Blount, a freshman involved in dance and theater. 

She says many of the dance and theater students often hang out at the creek where Weiser's body was found, since it is close to the dance and theater building.

“I was actually there on Sunday and I was honestly alone, so it’s kind of scary to think that could have been me or any one of us,” Blount said.

The following statement was shared on April 7 by the family of Haruka Weiser, according to UT:

"Haruka Juliana Tsunemine Weiser, our beloved daughter, sister and friend was taken from us too soon. We will forever miss her; the pain of our sudden and tragic loss is unfathomable. We are grateful for all the support, kindness and prayers that have been offered to us. Words cannot express the outpouring of love we have received.

"Haruka was a passionate and dedicated dancer and student. She was so happy to be a student at UT and was looking forward to the chance to perform again as a Dance Major and she was declaring a second major in pre-med studies, too. She had plans to explore the world of medicine this summer and to travel to visit family in Japan.

"Although Haruka loved to perform on stage she never sought the spotlight in her daily life. Perhaps the last thing she would want it to be the poster child for any cause. And yet, as we struggle to understand why she was killed, if her death can somehow make it safer for a young woman to walk home, if it will prevent another assault or murder, then at least we could find some meaning behind an otherwise senseless and tragic death. To her friends, the many of students at UT and at her high school in all the dance programs in which she participated we are united in prayer for Haruka and for each other. No parent, brother, sister or friend should have to face this kind of sadness, this kind of loss.

"Yet, many do. And now we have joined that family. At UT, Haruka did make many friends and received so much support from this community. We know Haruka would not wish for us be stuck in sadness but to keep living life to the fullest; that is what we will try to do in the coming days. And we offer prayers and encouragement for you to do the same.

"Thank you for respecting our privacy at this time."

In wake of the tragedy, Weiser's family released a statement thanking everyone for their hard work, prayers and support.

The statement read, in part, "Today we learned that the Austin Police Department has arrested an individual in connection with the death of our daughter, Haruka. We are grateful for the effective investigation by the Austin Police Department, the University of Texas Police and all who assisted with this case. We are relieved to hear this news.

We remain steadfast in our desire to honor Haruka’s memory through kindness and love, not violence. To the police officers, the UT community and all who have been impacted by this, we just ask that you hug your children, hug your parents TWICE, one from you and one from us."

KPRC 2 found an article published in Dec. 2015 by Texas High School which featured a person named Meechaiel Criner.  In the article, written by Raga Justin, the teen claimed to have been mocked and bullied as a child, leaving him to feel lonely and helpless.  Children's Protective Services took the teen and his siblings away from their mother and placed them with their grandmother, but the teen said he eventually ended up at a foster home, where he was beaten and traumatized.

[Read the article here, posted on page 12 of The Issu]

NBC has confirmed Criner was under the care of CPS and was in a foster home, but ran away.  

At the end of the article, Criner said, "Every day, I feel people think I'm not capable of much.  What I want to leave behind is my name - I want them to know who Meechaiel Criner is."

It was an eerie prediction of what was to come, but with a tragic ending.

The family of Criner says they haven't spoken to him in almost a year. 

"Until they dig into it and see what it is, it's hard for me to believe he did it," his grandmother, Mary Wadley, said.

He spent some time living with her over the years in a brick home in Texarkana.

Criner's mom lost custody of her kids when they were young. Cryner was in and out of foster care, eventually ending up a ward of the state. 

"All i know, is CPS was supposed to have him because they said he wasn't 18 yet," Wadley said.

Wadley admits her grandson had a temper and had been getting psychioatric help since he was a child. 

"If you made him mad he would snap. His temper snapped real bad, even the school knew about it and they try to work with him to make sure other kids don't bother him," she said.

Police said the 17-year old had been living on the streets in Austin.

Criminal Offenses at The University of Texas at Austin | StartClass