UCLA's Andrea DelVesco was stabbed to death before her apartment was set on fire

Publish date: 2024-06-04

A 21-year-old UCLA student who was found dead in a burning apartment last week was stabbed to death before her home was set on fire, prosecutors said Tuesday while charging two men with the murder. 

Alberto Medina, of Fresno, and Eric Marquez, of Westwood, have each been charged with the death of 21-year-old Andrea 'Andy' DelVesco, whose body was discovered in the smokey remains of her Westwood home on September 21.

The two were arraigned on Tuesday. Medina is accused of burglarizing an apartment near the home of DelVesco, before bursting into the psychology student's apartment and stabbing her to death, KTLA 5 reported.

He has been charged with one count of capital murder and is eligible for the death penalty. 

Andrea DelVesco, 21, was stabbed to death and then her apartment was set on fire to cover up the murder in 2015

Murdered: Los Angeles police say that Andrea 'Andy' DelVesco, 21, was stabbed to death and then her apartment was set on fire to cover up the murder. Two men have been charged with her murder  

Eric Marquez plead guilty to charges of burglary and being an accessory to the crime Alberto Medina was convicted of murder

Eric Marquez (left) and Alberto Medina (right) have each been charged with murder over the death of 21-year-old Andrea 'Andy' DelVesco. Prosecutors say Medina stabbed the sorority girl to death 

Marquez, a UCLA fifth-year undergraduate student, was charged with one count of murder and two counts of first-degree burglary, however his involvement in the killing has not been disclosed. 

He is being held on $1 million bail. Medina, who is unaffiliated with the university, was being held without bail.

Forensic evidence and witness statements led to the weekend arrests of the two men.

Police believe the fire was set to cover up Andrea's murder, a crime committed just days before she was due in court to answer for charges she possessed meth, mushrooms, ecstasy and LSD with an intent to distribute. 

Medina was arrested in Fresno Saturday night and he is being held without bail. Marquez was arrested in Westwood Sunday and he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, LAPD told NBCLA.

Meanwhile, Andrea's heartbroken parents have spoken out for the first time since the mysterious death of their daughter to Crime Watch Daily in an interview to be aired on Tuesday September 29.

'She was an angel on Earth,' said Leslie DelVesco. 'She would just look you right in the eye when you were talking to her and you knew she saw into your soul.'

Firefighters responding to a blaze at an off-campus apartment complex in LA's Westwood area when they made the gruesome discovery of Andrea's body. 

'An angel on Earth': The parents of a UCLA sorority sister found dead in the torched remains of her apartment are speaking out a week after their daughter's death 'Her life was cut short, but when she was here she affected so many people in so many positive ways that I¿m just beginning to understand,' her father said

'An angel on Earth': The parents of a UCLA sorority sister found dead in the torched remains of her apartment are speaking out a week after their daughter's death

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A week later, after police began investigating his daughter's death as a homicide potentially linked to Andrea's secret life as a drug dealer, her dad preferred to remember Andrea's boundless spirit.

'Her life was cut short, but when she was here she affected so many people in so many positive ways that I’m just beginning to understand,' her father told Crime Watch Daily.

Her sister Alexis added: 'She was a giver and she cared more about helping other people than she cared about helping herself.' 

After her death, it emerged that Andrea had a drug case pending against her in which the blonde co-ed was accused of being in possession of several different controlled substances.

Andrea's dog was severely injured in the inferno, and later had to be put down. The UCLA senior was found dead in her Westwood apartment

Mystery death: Andrea 'Andy' DelVesco, 21 (left and right), a senior at UCLA, was found dead in her Westwood apartment Monday following a fire

Inferno: Firefighters responded to a blaze at an off-campus apartment complex in the 10900 block of Roebling Avenue in Westwood early September 21

Inferno: Firefighters responded to a blaze at an off-campus apartment complex in the 10900 block of Roebling Avenue in Westwood early September 21

Gruesome find: While searching through the unit where the fire broke out, firefighters discovered DelVesco's badly burned body 

Gruesome find: While searching through the unit where the fire broke out, firefighters discovered DelVesco's badly burned body 

She was pronounced dead on the scene Monday. It took more than 30 firefighters about 15 minutes to put out the flames.  

DelVesco was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority's UCLA chapter and was a senior majoring in psychology and Spanish, reported Daily Bruin. Her death came on the first day of the fall semester.

‘Andy had a contagious spirit and was a fearless giver,’ said Pi Beta Phi Chapter President Jacquie Medeiros in a statement. ‘Andy was a friend to every person she met. She was always inclusive and there for everyone.’

Coroner Lt. Fred Corral later revealed that DelVesco’s death is being investigated as an apparent homicide.

According to officials, DelVesco's apartment was equipped with working smoke alarms, and there were no bars on the windows to prevent her from escaping the flames and smoke.

The UCLA senior was charged in July with multiple counts of drug possession with intent to sell

Legal troubles: It has emerged that the UCLA senior (left and right) was charged in July with multiple counts of drug possession with intent to sell

Andrea's dog was severely injured in the inferno, and later had to be put down

Suspected drug dealer: Delvasco was arrested in early June and arraigned a month later on charges of possessing ecstasy, LSD , methamphetamine and hallucinogenic mushrooms

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said Tuesday that a 'person of interest' was seen fleeing the scene of the fire.

UCLA released a statement from Chancellor Gene Block offering condolences to Ms Delvasco's family and friends. 

'UCLA is a close-knit community, and this tragic event affects us all,' the statement read in part, according to ABC7. 

Court records obtained by NBC Los Angeles show Delvasco was arrested in early June in Westwood and arraigned a month later on charges of possessing ecstasy, LSD , methamphetamine and hallucinogenic mushrooms. 

Curious timing: The 21-year-old woman was scheduled to appear in court September 25 in connection to her drug case   

Curious timing: The 21-year-old woman was scheduled to appear in court September 25 in connection to her drug case   

Family's grief: The 21-year-old, a native of Texas, is survived by (L to R) younger sister Alexis, brother James and their parents 

Family's grief: The 21-year-old, a native of Texas, is survived by (L to R) younger sister Alexis, brother James and their parents 

The sorority girl pleaded not guilty to all counts and was released on her own recognizance. She was due back in court Friday, at which time a judge was supposed to set a date for a preliminary hearing.

Over the summer, DelVesco worked as a clerk at a Brentwood law office and was also employed at a Jumba Juice on campus, reported NBC.

The 21-year-old, a native of Texas, is survived by her parents, younger sister Alexis and brother James.

For developments in DelVesco’s story, tune in to Crime Watch Daily tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29th.  

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