Thalia Chaverria New Mexico State University (NMSU) sudden mystery death just days after turning 20. What caused an athlete in their prime to suddenly die?
Disconcert has come to the fore following the death of a New Mexico State University soccer player just days after her 20th birthday.
Thalia Chaverria was found unresponsive in her New Mexico home Monday morning and pronounced dead by emergency responders.
She turned 20 on July 2 and was set to begin her junior year at New Mexico State and her third season playing as a defender for the Aggies women’s soccer team.
NMSU mourns the death of student-athlete Thalia Chavarría. My condolences to her family and friends. pic.twitter.com/jWkHfwyVHi
— Alyssa Muñoz (@_alyssamunoz) July 12, 2023
Mystery death, autopsy pending
‘Yesterday, we lost an amazing young woman, and we are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of a member of our Aggie family,’ New Mexico State Director of Athletics Mario Moccia said in a statement Tuesday.
‘Thalia had a vibrant personality and those who were fortunate enough to spend time with her knew she had a bright future ahead of her.’
The Las Cruces Police Department responded to Chaverria’s home at about 7 a.m.
Las Cruces cops are investigating her death but added that detectives ‘have no reason to believe Chaverria’s death is suspicious or the result of criminal activity,’ according to local reports.
The college athlete’s death is felt throughout the ‘very tight-knit’ community at New Mexico State, Moccia said.
Chaverria helped her team earn its first conference title in the school’s history after three shutout victories in the WAC Tournament her sophomore year.
She also saw the fourth-greatest amount of time on the field among her teammates last season.
‘The sudden loss of Thalia has completely rocked our Aggie soccer families’ world,’ head soccer coach Rob Baarts said. ‘T was an inspiration and rock to this team. She will be missed but not forgotten. Her spirit will be with us every day, on and off the pitch. I will always love you T!’
Friends of Chaverria’s family have started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for her parents to transport her body from New Mexico to her hometown of Bakersfield, California.
‘She was a sister to her two brothers, a daughter and a loving dog mom to her fur babies,’ the organizers wrote of the college student. ‘She was loved by many. Her long beautiful curly hair and smile will forever be embedded in our memories.’
The cause of death has yet to be released. An autopsy is pending, according to the Las Cruces Sun News.
