I'm a cousin of Alexa's from Westmont, I loved her dearly. I know now that she's in a better place with rainbows and sunshine. Writing this and reading your posts helps to heal, please be kind. Rest in peace Lexi xoxoxoxoxoxo, your big cuz.

I, like everyone, am incredibly saddened by this news. I did not know Alexa personally, but as someone who has struggled with depression and suicidal tendencies I feel the overwhelming need to speak out.

I just want everyone to know that life does not have to be this way; that help is out there. Honestly, the hardest step is gathering up enough courage to ask for it. It took me years to truly get that courage, and at times I felt that people were not taking me seriously. However once that first step is taken, it opens the doors to the life one desires so strongly.

By asking for the help I needed I got another chance. Unfortunately, Alexa never received that chance.

To anyone who may read this: If a friend or family member expresses symptoms of depression please take it seriously. I cannot count the number of times I tried to express my problems only for them to be taken lightly. This reaction only sent me deeper into my depression and made me wonder if I would ever be able to get out. Offer your friend/family member support and possibly aide in finding the right person to talk to. It is especially important to prevent this person from feeling ashamed.

On a similar note: If you are struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts I believe you should know that shame is absolutely the last thing you should feel when asking for help. In fact, you should be proud! I cannot tell you what a relief it was when I finally admitted that I couldn't help myself on my own and began to receive the aide I truly needed. It was certainly difficult, but it is entirely worth it. I am now able to approach life with a bit more optimism, and am able to handle setbacks with much more strength.

Just know that you are not alone. There are so many people who struggle with situations very similar. It's always tough, but in the end, getting help and moving forward is so worth it.

Rest in peace, Alexa. I can see that you will truly be missed and that your memory will be forever cherished. Watch over those you've left behind - they'll need your guidance.

For those of you that have the nerve to come on here and vent about anything other than Alexa - SHAME ON ALL OF YOU - including Chief Delaney. This is not the place or the time. Go find somewhere else to vent and let the others have their time to grieve. You truly make me sick!

To the family and friends of Alexa - I did not know her but from what I have read, we truly lost a wonderful person who has touched many people. RIP sweetheart....

Alexa was our daughter's mentor while she was a senior at Westmont Hilltop and Katrina was in 8th grade. Alexa volunteered her time in a program called "girls in the middle" which helped build self-esteem, awareness, and social skills for the younger girls prior to their entry into high school.

After the initial shock of the tragic news, Katrina pointed out several nice things about Alexa and how much she enjoyed their time spent together on Friday afternoons last school year. She said she was inspired to be a kind person like Alexa and has tried to continued to do so since moving to the high school this year. We are very fortunate that our daughter had Alexa as a role model; Katrina said when she is old enough she would like to be a mentor for "girls in the middle" as well. What an awesome program.

I also had the pleasure of coaching Alexa's younger brother, Bryson, for one year in Johnstown Pony League. What a nice young man and a leader on our team. Once the season ended, he said he'd watch out for Katrina and our son TJ when they started at the high school.

What a testament these children are to their parents, Bryan and Cindy, who I got to know through baseball. What a nice family.

God bless Alexa and to the Eplett family, you are all in our thoughts and prayers in this difficult time. You have touched our family in a positive way and I felt the need to share with the Pitt community something about Alexa and her family!

I am genuinely confused as to why the Pitt News would give out the name of this student mere hours after her death, but withhold the name of the shooting victim last month. Does a person's right to privacy, as stated in the shooting article, cease to exist when they die? The contradiction makes it seem like the Pitt New's current stance is hypocritical.

If I am incorrect, please tell me as I was seriously shocked to see this article yesterday. If anyone has an explanation other than the statement already given, please speak up. I enjoy reading TPN everyday, because I find them usually unbiased and honest. Unless someone helps me to understand the changing of values between the two articles, I am forced to amend my opinion of this publication.

I met Alexa while volunteering in the fall. Right away I saw what a happy, spirited, and caring person she was. We worked with children from low income families who just needed someone to look up to and talk with after school. Alexa brought joy to the students, making jokes with them, asking them how their day was or what is going on in their life, she was a true role model and a dependable adult for them to look up too. I feel lucky to have witnessed such wonderful interaction and to have volunteered with her for the short time that we did. RIP Alexa, you are such a sweet heart

Alexa is from Johnstown.. She has an older sister and a younger brother, parents and grandparents who adored her. She had a beautiful smile, a great sense of humor and personality. She was thoughtful and considerate and generally just a nice person. Our prayers are with her, her family and friends whose lives will never be the same.

I am from Westmont, and have close ties with this family. Having heard the news first hand from the family, they couldn't even confirm the details of her death. I think it was very distasteful. I know that you have to use discretion in posting the details of her death. But so soon after her body was found?! Her family couldn't even give confirmation of the details. This was an indication to me, that the Pitt News jumped the gun on posting the intimate details of her death. You could have made the Pitt Community aware of the passing of a student, without the notice of a suicide. Give the family and friends time to grieve.

On another note. Alexa was a beautiful, EXTREMELY intelligent, athletic young women. You will be greatly missed by family and friends. You are loved my so many, and an entire community. RIP. Many angels lead you in.

I am disappointed on the manner in which the Pitt News handled this tragedy. I have spent over a decade working with your student journalist sharing the correct amount of information needed to keep our community up-to-date with what's going on; yet coaching them on what is obtrusive and offensive to the parties involved.

My advised for your article would have been, “police called to check on the welfare of a student and discovered the student was deceased. No foul play is suspected". This statement would serve the purpose of communicating to Lothrop Hall residents that something occurred and they are not at harm. Salacious articles are quick and easy to write please take the time to consider the feelings of all of your readers.

The Pitt News has shown, by exploiting this tragedy, that it is the disgrace of our university. I doubt there's anyone who doesn't feel terrible about this girl's passing, but at this point I'm sure none feel worse than her close friends who first heard the awful news via an offensively insensitive, poorly written article published shamefully soon after the tragedy. You've been a rag for as long as I've read you, but tonight you hit a new low. Objective journalism does not excuse the fact that some tragedies require tact and good judgement, two things the Pitt News has consistently lacked. If the editor has any human decency at all, he will remove this article and publicly apologize for divulging such personal information so soon after the girl's death. I'm sure that like all other comments by Pitt Briefly staff members, this will be censored, however, before it is, let me say that if the Pitt News can't cover somber, serious stories with any kind of professionalism or dignity, you would be better off sticking to the tabloid-quality trash you usually print, like your horrific SEX edition.

That being said, I urge all Pitt students to hold this girl, her family and her friends in your hearts, and let us work towards creating a community in which tragedies like tonight's can be prevented.