News Release

March 23, 2005

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

Baltimore police announced this morning that they have made an arrest in the murder of Linda Trinh. They will be announcing details at a news conference at 4 p.m. Please check the Web sites of local news media after that time. We will post information on the university's home page at www.jhu.edu this evening.

Linda's murder was a terrible blow to our university, especially coming so close to the death last year of Chris Elser. Linda, like Chris, was an extraordinary member of our community. She was talented and hard-working, loving and well-loved.

So these past two months have been very difficult for all of us. But as hard as it has been, we have been confident throughout that the Baltimore police department was aggressively pursuing the case. We know that the officers of this department, from the front-line investigators up through the chiefs and all the way up to Commissioner Leonard Hamm, have devoted many, many hours to this effort.

More important, they have devoted their hearts and souls as well to catching the person who took Linda from her family and friends.

I want to say publicly today, on behalf of the entire university community, how grateful we are to Mayor Martin O'Malley and to Commissioner Hamm and his team. We are especially grateful to every detective, every police officer, every forensic investigator, to anyone who contributed in any way to the successful conclusion of this investigation. I also want to commend Director Ron Mullen and the men and women of our own Security Department for their efforts in support of the police investigation.

Not only as president, but as a parent, I can tell you that the safety and security of our students is of paramount importance to Johns Hopkins. We have been working very hard, in close cooperation with the community, the police and the city, to enhance that safety and security. I pledge today that we will not let up in our dedication to that effort.

Sincerely,

William R Brody
President