HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Kenzi Noris Elizabeth Snider, 20, is charged in a federal complaint with the beating death of Jamie Lynn Penich, 21, while both were exchange students at Keimyung University in Daegu, Korea.

The complaint said Snider confessed to the murder, which occurred on March 18, 2001. Documents filed by an assistant U.S. attorney in Huntington indicated that the incident followed a sexual encounter between the two women.

Friends from Marshall University were present at Snider's hearing Friday, and they told reporters they did not think Snider was capable of such an act.

"Kenzi is not the kind of person to do this," said David Hendricks. "It's a complete shock."

An elementary education student, Snider withdrew from Marshall earlier this semester "because she missed too many classes and exams while she was trying to help the FBI," said Carmen Dillon.

"We all know her well and this doesn't seem possible," Dillon said. "She doesn't eat meat because she can't stand the idea of killing animals."

According to the federal complaint, Snider, Penich and other American exchange students took a sightseeing trip to Seoul beginning March 16, 2001. The group stayed at the Kum Sung Motel in Itaewondong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

On the night of March 17, the group went drinking at a nearby night club. When they returned to the motel, "Penich asked Snider to help her to take a shower as she was overcome with alcohol," the complaint said.

"Snider and Penich went into the bathroom ... (where) Penich began to take off her clothes. Snider and Penich began to kiss and have sexual contacts. When Penich attempted to take off Snider's pants and touch her genitals, Snider became very enraged at Penich.

"Snider hit Penich's head and caused her to fall down into the bathtub," the complaint said. "Snider then picked her up and moved her out of the bathroom and repeatedly trampled down on her face, neck and chest area very hard, with her shoes on. Snider thus caused Penich to die from suffocation. Snider left Penich, covering her face with a jacket."

"The affiliation between the two appears to have been strictly this exchange program. I believe Ms. Snider arrived in Seoul, was one of the first members of that group around the first of March last year," said Jack Shea, agent in charge of the Pittsburgh FBI bureau.

Snider's college friends said she came to Huntington from Minnesota, although she was born in Italy, where her father was serving with the U.S. diplomatic corps. She grew up traveling the world, attending grade school in Zaire and high school in Kuwait.

Her father is now living in Thailand and her mother in Florida, students said.

Snider was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma honor society, membership chairman of the Lions Club, and a member of the student governing board at her dormitory. She works with special needs children, and does not have a criminal record.

"This has got to be false," said her brother, Jordan. "This doesn't sound like her at all."

"She is definitely not a murderer," said family friend Nadine Gammel. "She is an extremely intelligent kid, responsible, mature. This just blows me away."