Royal Oak High School grad’s death ruled accidental
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ROYAL OAK A runner discovered the body of Grand Valley State University student and 2020 Royal Oak High School graduate Taylor DeRosa, 18, near the university’s intramural athletic fields the morning of Dec. 12, 2020.
The Ottawa County Medical Examiner’s Office recently ruled DeRosa’s death “accidental,” despite law enforcement initially describing her death as “suspicious.” The cause of death was hypothermia, with alcohol as a contributing factor.
Police said there was no identification with the body and that, when DeRosa’s body was identified, her family asked the university to release her name.
GVSU mourns student who lived passionate, involved life as advocate
Dozens of mourners gathered Wednesday for a candlelight vigil at Grand Valley State University honoring a student from Royal Oak found dead on campus last weekend.
Socially distanced as university officials requested, the attendees stood solemnly beneath Cook Carillon Tower and bare trees decorated in blue and white lights as temperatures dipped below freezing.
They bowed their heads to remember 18-year-old Taylor DeRosa, who was in her first year at the school on Michigan s west side. I definitely feel very sorry for the family, and to lose a member of the Laker family just kind of hits close to home, said Bryce Thomas, a GVSU junior from Alpena who attended the vigil Wednesday night.
Photo provided by Valerie Wojciechowski, GVSU communications
Deceased GVSU student identified as Royal Oak High School grad
DeRosa
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ROYAL OAK The communities of Royal Oak and Grand Valley State University, which is located near Grand Rapids, are mourning the loss of Royal Oak resident Taylor DeRosa. She was 18.
The body of the first-year college student and 2020 Royal Oak High School graduate was discovered on the GVSU campus by a runner near the intramural athletic fields the morning of Dec. 12. The Grand Valley State University Police Department and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Michigan State Police, are investigating what they described as a “suspicious” death.
Deceased GVSU student identified as Taylor DeRosa of Royal Oak
The Grand Valley State University student whose body was found over the weekend has been identified as Taylor DeRosa, a first-year student from Royal Oak, college officials said Tuesday.
University police and the Ottawa County Sheriff s Office are continuing their investigation into the 18-year-old s death, calling it suspicious. Her body was found in the intramural fields and cross-country trail at the Allendale campus. The cause of her death has not been determined as of Tuesday.
GVSU students are planning a candlelight vigil in memory of DeRosa at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Cook Carillon Tower on the Allendale campus. Face masks are required, along with social distancing.
By Peg McNichol
Dec 15, 2020 1:22 PM
HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) Friends of the late Royal Oak resident and first-year Grand Valley State University student Taylor DeRosa have organized an online fundraiser for the girl’s devastated mother.
Ms. DeRosa’s body was found on GVSU’s campus Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, and GVSU police have indicated her death is suspicious.
In a GoFundMe post set up Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, the group of friends wrote, “We lost our beautiful, strong, courageous, smart and sweet Taylor far too soon. Taylor lived a passionate, involved life as an advocate for gun control, Black Lives Matter, women’s rights and a host of other organizations and movements that supported human equality, fairness and truth. Taylor’s smile was illuminating, and her warmth, friendliness and humor brought joy to everyone who knew her. She was a loving daughter, granddaughter, cousin, niece and friend. Taylor was a freshman at Grand Valley State University majoring in i