Issuu

TUESDAY February 3, 2015

THE DAILY ILLINI 5he independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

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Vol. 144 Issue 50

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1994-2015

R E M E M BE R I N G V I C E N T E MU N D O

BRENTON TSE THE DAILY ILLINI

Students and community members spilled out of La Casa Cultural Latina holding candles and each other in remembrance of University student Vicente Mundo.

Community gathers to share stories of student’s life BY CAMILLE MURRAY AND CHARLOTTE COLLINS STAFF WRITERS

To his friends, he was funny and selfless. To his fraternity brothers, he was a role model. To his sister Julieta, he always had a childlike gentleness about him. Vicente Mundo was a junior studying statistics at the University who grew up in the Back of the Yards neighborhood in Chicago. He was the first in his family to go away to college. Close friends and family laughed and cried as they shared memories of Mundo at a vigil held at La Casa Cultural Latina on Monday night to remember his life. The vigil began with a

prayer and a message written by Mundo’s family, who attended a vigil in Chicago but asked the local community to share stories. He was described as a funny, generous and driven person by several friends, who said they are determined to keep his memory alive through sharing stories. “If you would’ve known him, even for just a little bit, you would’ve fallen in love with him because that’s just the type of guy he was,” said Erika Castillo, a close friend of Mundo who attended Curie Metropolitan High School with him. Castillo evoked both tears and laughs from the audience as she recalled a time

when Mundo spontaneously came to visit her in the hospital after she underwent surgery. He joked and danced to make her laugh, she said. The crowd reacted to the recollections with a mixture of mourning and laughter. Those who attended the gathering were encouraged to wear white. A table in the center of the room was decorated with colorful veladoras, white flowers and pictures of Mundo. Behind the table was a treeshaped mural where mourners wrote down individual messages that will be posted on the display throughout the week at the center. A soccer ball, in honor of Mundo’s love of the

sport, was passed around to be signed by those who attended. Mundo served as a coach for the Liga Latinoamericana, a Hispanic soccer league, in Chicago. The ball will be given to Mundo’s family. Mundo’s friends and fraternity brothers spoke of his kind heart and sense of humor. “I’m trying to think of any time he ever said anything bad about anyone, any time he was ever not helpful — and there isn’t one,” Enrique Escarpita, Mundo’s fraternity brother in Theta Chi said. “That’s why this whole situation to me is just overwhelming

SEE MUNDO | 3A

“If you would’ve known him, even for just a little bit, you would’ve fallen in love with him because that’s just the type of guy he was.” ERIKA CASTILLO

FRIEND OF VICENTE MUNDO

Authorities treat Mundo’s death as homicide Cause not yet released, but death not believed to be a random act, says UI chief of police BY CHARLOTTE COLLINS AND MEGAN JONES STAFF WRITER AND ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The body found alongside a roadway near Tolono on Saturday morning has been identified as University student Vicente Mundo, who has been missing since Jan. 25. The cause of death has not been released, but the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office is treating the investigation as a homicide, according to a press release. “I find so much conso-

lation in knowing because that’s what was killing me,” said Julieta LaMalfa, Mundo’s sister. “It just seems like he didn’t suffer.” On Monday afternoon, a Facebook account run by those closest to Mundo posted that the body was identified as him. “We want to share with you the facts as we know them and remind you of the resources available to you on campus,” said Jeffrey Christensen, University chief of police, in a statement. “We do not believe this to be a random act.” Mundo, junior in LAS, was reported missing to the University of Illinois Police Department on Jan. 27. Police contacted Mundo’s family on Saturday after the body was found. L a M a lfa sa id she believed the body was her brother when she was given

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INSIDE

a description of a Hispanic male wearing a red Blackhawks hat. “He went to his first Hawks game over break,” LaMalfa said. “I was sick. I was supposed to go with him, and now, I wish I had just kind of sucked it up and had went with him, so I could have that memory. But, I have so many great memories of him.” LaMalfa said she wants to express her gratitude for those who worked to spread awareness about her brother’s disappearance. “What people are willing to do to help in times like this ... it’s so appreciated, and I’m just happy I wasn’t going through this alone and that I had people out there to go through it with me,” she said. The Champaign and University police departments are still looking for Mun-

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Investigation Timeline Body found — A body

Mundo last seen —

is found near Tolono on Saturday. The identity is not released

Vicente Mundo was last seen in the 900 block of South Third Street on Jan. 25

Body identified — An

Missing persons report filed — A missing

MUNDO do’s car, a 2006 Acura TL, with a Chicago Bears vanity license plate reading 2557 B over D. The University Police Department has created a webpage for Mundo, asking for anonymous tips and providing information regarding campus counseling center resources.

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autopsy on Monday by the Champaign County Coroner’s office confirms the body found was Mundo.

persons report is filed with the University Police Department on Jan. 27

“We have a responsibility to Mr. Mundo’s family, his friends and our campus community to bring whoever is responsible to justice, and we will never give up on that promise until that happens,” the website said. The departments do not believe there is any con-

nection between Mundo’s murder and the disappearance of Cristian Zamora, a recent graduate from the University. Zamora has been missing since Dec. 31.

Charlotte and Megan can be reached at news @dailyillini.com.

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