A 25-year-old American woman who worked as a nay in Austria was found dead in her Viea apartment Tuesday, and investigators say it appears somebody killed her.
Police spokesman Thomas Keiblinger told the The Local, a news website in Viea, the woman’s half-naked body was found Tuesday evening on a mattress in the bathroom after she failed to report for work and her employer notified police.
Niles Cole, a spokesman with the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, identified her to the Associated Press as Lauren Ma.
Detectives said that an autopsy showed she had no exteal injuries, and have now ordered a toxicological report to see if she was poisoned, the Local reported.
Police spokesman Thomas Keiblinger told the news outlet that traces of blood were found near her head, which may indicate an inteal injury.
A forensics team initially had trouble examining the scene as all the light bulbs in her apartment had but out and had to be replaced with the help of a ladder.
Keiblinger said the woman had been studying and working in Viea for around three years.
Ma's family issued a statement on Facebook Wednesday, ABC News' Denver affiliate KMGH-TV reported.
"We are heartbroken to tell you our daughter and sister Lauren Ma has been found dead in her apartment in Viea, Austria. An investigation is in progress. It has been released in Austria to the media and is being sensationalized. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers," the statement read.
Ma attended the University of Colorado at Boulder College of Music, where she studied piano and played in several recitals, according to the university website.
She was also a member of Club français @ CU Boulder, where people lea French.
University spokesman Ryan Huff said the university was saddened by news of her death.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.