Charlottesville police charged Virginia men’s lacrosse player George Huguely, 22, with the murder of Virginia women’s lacrosse player, Yeardley Love, 22, today after police found Love dead in her bed early this morning.
Love’s roommate called police to the scene at 2:15 a.m. because of an apparent alcohol overdose, but they found obvious physical harm done to the senior. Hours later, police arrested Huguely and are holding him in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, according to Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo.
Longo said Huguely and Love “have had a romantic relationship, but the exact status of that at this time is part of our investigation.”
This stunning news in the lacrosse world comes just weeks before the start of the NCAA Tournament on both the men’s and the women’s side. The Virginia men’s team (14-1) is ranked No. 1 in this week’s IL/Nike Top 25 poll. The women’s team (13-5) is ranked No. 5 in this week’s InsideLacrosse poll.
Love was a native of Cockeysville, MD and attended Notre Dame Prep. She has started three games this season. She played at Notre Dame Prep with current Terps’ lacrosse player Caitlyn McFadden and the two graduated in the same year. McFadden declined to comment earlier this afternoon.
Huguely is a native of Chevy Chase, MD and attended Landon. He has played in all 15 games this season, scoring four goals.
Here is the statement released by the women’s lacrosse team tonight:
“We are all incredibly shocked and saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Yeardley Love. Our hearts go out to the entire Love family and the Virginia women’s lacrosse program after this tragic loss.”
More to come both online at TerrapinTrail.com and Diamondbackonline.com
Chris Eckard is the Diamondback’s Terrapin women’s lacrosse beat reporter. He can be reached at ceckard@umdbk.com.