Temple University community holds vigil for Jenna Burleigh

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Dozens of Temple University students came together on campus Thursday holding red flowers, mourning the death of 22-year-old Jenna Burleigh.

The Temple Student Government and the Progressive NAACP hosted the vigil for Burleigh of Harleysville, Pa..

The vigil was held at Founder's Garden on the North Philadelphia campus.

Joshua Hupperterz, 29, was charged with Burleigh's murder early Sunday. He was also charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and possession of an instrument of crime.

Cause of death released for Temple student. Annie McCormick reports during Action News at 11 p.m. on September 3, 2017.

Burleigh was last seen around 2 a.m. last Thursday leaving a bar near campus. Police believe Burleigh and Hupperterz had just met before they left the bar. Burleigh's body was found in Wayne County, on a lakefront property owned by the suspect's grandmother.

The school's president said Burleigh had just joined the Temple community last week as a junior transfer student from Montgomery County Community College, majoring in film and media arts.

In a statement last week, the Temple Student Government said:

Those that knew Jenna described her as "big hearted," "hilarious," "fiercely feminist," "unapologetically herself," and "an incredibly woke young woman." She spent much of her time combating racism and sexism, as well as defending the rights for LGBTQIA+ community.

A viewing for Burleigh will be held at the Williams, Bergey, Koffel Funeral Home at 667 Harleysville Pike, Telford, Pennsylvania on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Another viewing will take place from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Church at 1601 Derstine Road in Hatfield, Pa. prior to the funeral at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jenna's memory to Jenna's Blessing Bags for the Homeless. Checks can be made payable to "Univest Foundation - Jenna's Blessing Bags" and sent to Univest Foundation, 14 N. Main St., P. O. Box 197, Souderton, PA 18964.

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