Death of nursing student under investigation | News

Local and state authorities are investigating the death of a Georgia College & State University nursing student who was found dead in her bed in a dormitory on the university’s campus late last month.

Mary Chandler, special agent in charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Region 6 office in Milledgeville, identified the victim as 20-year-old Alexis Diane Gunter of Byron.

The GBI and Baldwin County Coroner’s Office are currently conducting a death investigation to determine the cause of death.

“We don’t see anything suspicious,” Chandler told the Union-Recorder.

An autopsy was recently performed at the GBI Crime Laboratory in Decatur to determine the college student’s cause and manner of death, Chandler said. Authorities are awaiting toxicology results from the crime lab.

Chandler said it takes about 90 days on average for such test results to be available.

Chandler said GCSU Department of Public Safety Police Chief Wes Hardin requested state law enforcement assistance in the death investigation at 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, June 29.

The GBI has since taken over the lead investigative role.

GBI Special Agent Amanda Hammock, who was on duty at the time, is now the lead case worker.

In a phone interview with the newspaper Thursday morning, Hardin confirmed that GCSU police received a non-emergency call at 11:05 a.m. on June 29 to conduct a welfare check. Hardin said the caller was a friend of Gunter’s who was concerned because she hadn’t heard from her friend.

“She had not spoken to her (Gunter) since late Thursday night before the body was discovered that Saturday,” Hardin said. “The plaintiff said that was not her style because they spoke every day.”

Hardin said police officers used a key to gain entry to the dorm room where Gunter lived. A short time later, Gunter’s body was found in her bed.

“The emergency services were immediately called to the scene of the accident,” said the GCSU police chief.

When Atrium Health Navicent emergency medical services personnel arrived on scene, they found no signs of life and radioed Deputy Medical Examiner Foster Hurt to officially declare the victim dead.

“Immediately after we became aware of a death on campus, the GBI was called and we turned the investigation over to them,” Hardin said.

Shortly after Gunter’s death, GCSU President Cathy Cox sent out an email to inform faculty, staff and students of the death on campus. It said, “The GCSU community is saddened by the loss of one of its students, Alexis Gunter, a 20-year-old nursing student, member of the Council of Ambassadors and former peer mentor of the Bridge Scholar Program. Alexis, of Byron, Georgia, passed away on campus over the weekend. The entire Georgia College community extends its deepest condolences to her family and friends.”

In the same email, Cox also mentioned that counselors are available to assist individuals or groups on campus who need help. Any student who would like to speak with a counselor can do so by calling Counseling Services at 478-445-5331. Resources are also available on the Counseling Services webpage (https://www.gcsu.edu/counseling).

A memorial service was held on Tuesday evening, where students and teachers gathered to remember the student affectionately known as “Lex.”

During this service, Gunter was described as someone who would continue to be a shining light on the GCSU campus.

“Her memory will be remembered by the GCSU community for years to come,” Cox said. “Please continue to think of Lex’s friends and family and keep them in your prayers.”

The funeral for Gunter took place on July 5th. She had recently received her white coat and taken the oath as a nurse.

Gunter graduated from Northside High School in Warner Robins. During her high school years, she was heavily involved in theater and acting.

“She was a ray of sunshine and a light in a dark room,” her obituary reads. “Always positive and determined, but shy, Alexis had a great and radiant energy that was unmatched. She had such a sweet face that she never met a stranger and welcomed and loved everyone. In her free time, she enjoyed listening to all kinds of music and watching sunsets and fairies. She will be greatly missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing her.”