CHICO, Calif. – The California State University, Chico community is reeling after 28-year-old biological sciences major Alexandra Wynter was found dead Wednesday night in what authorities are investigating as a murder-suicide linked to domestic violence.
Chico Police responded to a disturbance call in the 1200 block of Warner Street just after 8:30 p.m. on December 3. Upon entering the residence, officers discovered the bodies of a man and a woman, both deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. Though official identification is pending, Chico State President Steve Perez confirmed Thursday morning that the female victim was Alexandra Wynter.
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In an emotional campus-wide message, President Perez wrote, “This is a deeply painful loss for our university family. Alexandra was a dedicated student on the verge of achieving her dream of graduating this spring, and her bright future has been tragically taken from her.”
Perez described the incident as “an act of domestic violence,” and urged students, faculty, and staff struggling with the news to seek counseling through the university’s WellCat Health Center and victim-advocacy resources.
Alexandra first enrolled at Chico State in fall 2016, stepped away for a period, then returned with renewed determination while working full-time as a patient care technician at Enloe Health. Classmates and coworkers described her as brilliant, empathetic, and relentlessly kind.
“She always made time to help someone, no matter how packed her schedule was,” said Sarah Mendoza, a fellow nursing student who studied with Wynter. “She was going to be an amazing scientist and healer. This just doesn’t feel real.”
Friends say Wynter kept details of her personal life private, and many were unaware she may have been experiencing domestic violence. Campus advocates stressed that her story underscores how abuse can remain hidden even among the most outgoing and accomplished individuals.
The Chico Police Department continues to investigate but has stated there is no ongoing threat to the public. The name of the male decedent has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
A candlelight vigil in Alexandra’s memory is being organized by the Associated Students and the Biological Sciences department for Monday evening on the Trinity Lawn. Counseling and grief support drop-in sessions will be available all next week.
Alexandra Wynter was months away from walking across the commencement stage she had fought so hard to reach. Instead, the Chico State flag flies at half-staff as her campus mourns a life cut heartbreakingly short.