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Sketch Released In Pitt Student's Murder

White Male Probably Not U.S. Soldier

UPDATED: 7:36 p.m. EDT May 8, 2001

Police in Seoul, South Korea, have released a sketch of the man who may have murdered University of Pittsburgh student Jamie Penich in a South Korean hotel room in March.

Penich Suspect Sketch (pstripes.com)

The sketch (pictured, left) is based on a description provided by a manager at the hotel where Penich's body was found. The sketch has been posted on the Stars and Stripes Web site.

The sketch is on a poster, written in Korean, that describes the suspect as a 5-foot-9 white male wearing a checkered shirt and beige pants. The man might have been wearing a Timberland shoe between a U.S. size 9 and 10.

No arrests have been made in the case.

U.S. servicemen who were stationed in the area have been cleared as suspects, according to an Army investigation official.

Penich, a 21-year-old anthropology major from Derry, Westmoreland County, was spending the semester studying at Keimyung University in Taegu, 150 miles southeast of Seoul. She and several other exchange students had taken a weekend trip to Seoul to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Meanwhile, Penich's mother, Patricia, told WTAE-TV's Marcie Cipriani that her family is frustrated and disgusted with a lack of developments in the case.

Patricia Penich said that at first her family was contacted three times a week with updates on the investigation. But now the calls come once every 10 days, with no new information but just word that the investigation is ongoing.

The Penich family has asked coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht to review the autopsy report for clues. But they said that they don't know where to turn to for help in getting information.

Cipriani contacted Congressman John Murtha's office. A spokesperson said that a federal privacy act prohibits them from interviewing without a waiver from the family.

But Murtha's office did contact the Penich family. Brian Penich, Jamie's father, gave them the questions he wanted answered and he said that he was told that he would have the answers Wednesday.

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