USC grad student's decomposed body found in dorm room

LINCOLN HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The decomposed body of a first-year graduate student at University of Southern California was discovered inside a dorm room, school officials said Thursday.

Jacob Kelley, a student in the Master of Science and Medical Physiology program at the Keck School of Medicine, was found at Seaver Residence Hall at about 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to USC police and coroner officials.

Officials said Kelley's body was found decomposed inside one of the dorm rooms after a maintenance worker noticed a foul odor. It appeared the student's body was in the room for approximately seven days before being discovered, officials said.

Authorities responded to the scene. Coroner officials said they noticed no signs of foul play and his death may have been accidental. An investigation to confirm his cause of death was ongoing.

Keck School of Medicine Dean Rohit Varma issued a letter to students, faculty and staff to offer support from counselors on campus.

Students said they were stunned to hear about the news.

"It's scary. I thought they had roommates that would find stuff like that, so, it's scary that they don't check up on the students, I guess," USC student Laila Fard said.

Varma said the student's family has been notified of their son's passing and asked everyone to keep the Kelley family in their thoughts.