Oregon teen killed at University of Texas was promising dancer

Beaverton school officials talk about Haruka Weiser

The death of a spirited and promising young dancer in Texas caused ripples of grief Thursday at the small magnet school in Beaverton from which she graduated.

The body of 18-year-old Haruka J. Weiser was found Tuesday in a creek in the heart the University of Texas campus, one day after her roommate reported her missing, Austin police said. The Portland woman's death is being investigated as a homicide.

Weisner was a 2015 graduate of the Arts & Communications Magnet Academy, said Principal Michael Johnson. Faculty and former classmates at the grade 6-12 magnet school learned of her disappearance on Wednesday.
"Twenty-four hours ago, this was a school holding its breath. Today our exhale is filled with sadness and grief," Johnson said during a news conference at the Beaverton campus. "Haruka was a very talented, high-spirited, lovely young woman and certainly was a treasured member of our school community."

Weiser belonged to Dance West, a student dance troupe that performed with the Oregon Symphony a few times a year, said Julane Stites, the group's director. She was in Austin on a full dance scholarship – the largest ever for a graduate of the magnet school, Stites said.

"She was intelligent, spirited and stunningly beautiful," Stites said. "She was loved and respected throughout the dance and arts community, and together we shall grieve."

Weisner had hopes of pursuing a career in medicine,  possibly becoming a doctor, or other science, a family member told the Austin American-Statesman.

Her personal Facebook page is filled with images of a vibrant life: Playful outings with friends; scenic views of the beach and mountains; and plenty of dancers. Her love of dance began early, right in her living room, Weisner wrote in a Dance West Facebook post on May 5, 2015.

"My favorite styles of dance are ballet and hip-hop," she said. "I love the precision and grace of ballet, but at the same time I enjoy the freedom and challenges I find in hip-hop."

Weiser came to the attention of the Texas university in 2014, while she was performing with Dance West at the National High School Dance Festival in Miami. Faculty began recruiting her immediately, according to campus President Greg L. Fenves.

"Haruka was a beloved member of our dance community, liked and admired by her classmates and respected by professors for her intelligence and spirit," he said in a news release.

Austin Assistant Police Chief Troy Gay said Weiser was last seen leaving the Winship Drama Building on campus around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, the Austin American-Statesman reported. She communicated with one of her friends as she headed to her dorm but never arrived, he said. A roommate reported her missing to campus police the following morning.

Weiser's body was found Tuesday in a creek near the campus alumni center and football stadium.

During a Thursday news conference, police asked for the public's help identifying a man caught on surveillance video. He was walking a woman's bicycle around 11 p.m. Sunday near the Darrell K Royal-Memorial Stadium, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Officials also

announced a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

A campus vigil is scheduled Thursday evening, at least 1,100 people plan to attend. The university has nearly 51,000 students.

In Beaverton, Johnson said he met with the advanced dancers at the 710-student magnet school. The students had begun connecting the dots through social media, he said, and he encouraged them to do what Weiser would have wanted them to do: dance.

"We had a great rehearsal," Stites noted.

The students, Johnson said, "the courage and the stamina to pull back together to do just that."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.