WHITTIER — The cause of death of a Whittier College student athlete found dead in her off-campus apartment last week remained unknown Sunday following an autopsy, coroner’s officials said.
Alyssa Sialaris was discovered unresponsive by her roommate shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday in the 5800 block of Painter Avenue, according to Whittier police and Los Angeles County Department of Coroner officials.
There were no obvious signs of trauma, and nothing to suggest how she died, officials said.
An autopsy was carried out Sunday, but Sialaris’ cause of death was not determined pending further tests, coroner’s Lt. Jerry McKibben said. Those tests would likely take six to eight weeks to complete.
She had no known medical problems and had no known history of substance abuse, coroner’s Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.
Investigators did not suspect foul play, Whittier police officials said.
News of Sialaris’ death sent shock waves through the community at Whittier College, which she was expected to graduate from with academic distinction next month.
A San Jose resident before attending Whittier College, Sialaris was majoring in kinesiology and nutrition science. She was an accomplished athlete in volleyball and track-and-field. Among other honors, she was named an NCAA All-American in both sports.