Memorial planned for Jacksonville State student found dead months before planned graduation

Memorial planned for Jacksonville State student found dead months before planned graduation

A memorial service will be held Monday for a Jacksonville State University student who was found dead in her campus apartment.

Mariah Casiano was found unresponsive Wednesday at Pannell Hall, said Director of Public Safety and Police Chief Michael Barton. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

A cause of death is pending, but officials said there was nothing suspicious or any foul play surrounding her death.

According to JSU officials, the 22-year-old Casiano was an Anniston native and a graduate of Saks High School.

She was a psychology major, a member of Psi Chi, Psychology Club, Active Minds and Peer Educators. She had recently made the Dean’s List and was awarded a Nathan Jackson Sparks Memorial Scholarship from the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama.

Casiano was a longtime employee of JSU Dining and worked as a cashier at the TMB Food Court.

She was set to graduate in December.

The service will be held Monday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. on the front steps of the Theron Montgomery building.

JSU officials said anyone who needs help processing their grief should call the University Police Department at 256-782-5050 to be connected with an on-call counselor from JSU Counseling Services.

A GoFundMe has been started to help with Casiano’s funeral, as her family had no life insurance.

‘’Mariah was such a sweet soul and was deeply loved,’’ the GoFundMe reads. Donations can be made here.