Thesis Defense Not Reason for San Diego Slayings, Professors Say

The master’s degree thesis written by a graduate student accused of fatally shooting three professors does not appear to be a factor in the murders, the victims’ colleagues say.

Contradicting police reports, San Diego State University engineering professors paint a favorable picture of the quality of Frederick Martin Davidson’s research project, the final hurdle to a degree.

“I was familiar with the thesis,” said professor Joseph Katz, whose office was next door to one of the victims. “It had all the elements of a ‘go,’ and Fred put a lot of effort into it.”

Police reported that Davidson, 36, was distraught by an earlier rejection of his thesis. On Aug. 15, police said, he pulled out a gun that he had placed in a first-aid kit and shot the professors gathered to review his work.

Chen Liang, Preston Lowrey III and Constantinos Lyrintzis died at the scene. Police arrested Davidson minutes later.

“In spite of all reports, the [killings] had nothing to do with the thesis defense itself,” said engineering Dean Pieter Frick.

Lyrintzis also had told Katz that he was prepared to approve the thesis, which examined “smart metals” alloys.

A second theory that Davidson was worried that the professors were blocking his employment opportunities remains under investigation, said prosecutor Rick Clabby, who added that school officials are “probably right” to dismiss the thesis theory.

Davidson had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but a grand jury indicted him last week.