Student at College for Deaf Is Found Slain in Dorm

A leader of a gay campus group at the nation’s only liberal arts university for the deaf was found dead in his dormitory room after being struck in the head repeatedly, police said Friday.

Eric Franklin Plunkett, 19, of Burnsville, Minn., who was deaf and had cerebral palsy, was found in his room at Gallaudet University on Thursday night after a student asked an official to check on him, police Cmdr. Jennifer Greene said. Plunkett had not been seen for more than a day, Greene said.

The medical examiner’s office ruled Plunkett’s death a homicide. Although police said they had no motive or suspects, they said an item was found that may have been the weapon. Investigators would not say what the item was or whether there were signs of forced entry into Plunkett’s room.

Plunkett was secretary of the Lambda Society of Gallaudet University, a gay and lesbian organization of about 20 students.

Police have no evidence to suggest Plunkett’s death was a hate crime, Greene said. Sgt. Joe Gentile, a police spokesman, said he had no information that Plunkett or any other students at Gallaudet had been threatened.

Gallaudet University, which was established by Congress in 1864 and serves students who are deaf and hearing impaired, has a student body of about 2,000.

Plunkett lived in a single room on the first floor of a four-story dormitory reserved for freshmen, said Mercy Coogan, a university spokeswoman. Other first-floor students were moved to other floors Thursday night, she said. The dorm is kept locked and entry is possible only with a key pass.

Students described Plunkett as friendly, somewhat shy and handy with a computer.

“He is a very sweet guy. He had high expectations for his future,” said freshman Jean Frink.

While students at Gallaudet consoled each other, staff officials, psychologists and social workers at Plunkett’s old high school in Faribault, Minn., met with the 160 students Friday to talk about his death.

“I just can’t imagine him having an enemy in the world,” said Linda Mitchell, superintendent of the Minnesota Academy for the Deaf.