Kean University loses one of its own
By Marisa Gallagher & Kyle Lawrence
The Kean community mourns the loss of 22-year-old student, William McCaw, an accounting major, whose body was found in a yard outside a New Brunswick home the morning of Saturday, Feb. 15.
McCaw, also known as “Billy” was last seen at a Valentine’s Day party, wearing a red tee-shirt and a white bandana tied around his head. He was brutally beaten to death, and his body was found on Hartwell Street in New Brunswick, an area near Rutgers campus that is well-known for college housing. Authorities say he suffered blunt force trauma.
A news release from the office of Middlesex County prosecutor Andrew Carey states McCaw was discovered behind a home on Hartwell Street and pronounced dead at 10:45 a.m. after authorities received a call at 10:26 from an unidentified neighbor.
Though the residence was occupied by students of Rutgers University, the school McCaw attended before transferring to Kean University, the residents claim they had no connection to McCaw.
Authorities claim McCaw frequently visited friends in New Brunswick, though it’s unclear what McCaw was doing shortly before his death.
“The entire Kean community extends our condolences to the family and friends of William McCaw,” said Kean University Police Director Adam Shubsda.
“I hope Billy gets justice,” Christian Acosta, a former teammate of McCaw’s, said. “It is tragic to lose someone so young and nice. Someone out there has to know what happened.”
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Martinez of the New Brunswick Police Department at (732) 745-5217, extension 6028, or Investigator Daniewicz of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4018.
Services on campus being offered to students grieving the loss of the soccer player and Pi Kappa Phi brother, can visit Downs Hall for counseling services. The services are provided to students and members of the community that seek support.