Miami-Dade County

Student found dead at off-campus student housing complex near FIU, police said

A 35-year-old Florida International University student was found dead Sunday afternoon in an off-campus apartment complex where students live near the main campus.

The man was found inside a bathroom at The One complex, Sweetwater police spokesman Jonathan Arche said Monday.

The 886-unit complex, named The One at University City, is located at 740 SW 109th Ave. and is across the street from the university’s main campus on Southwest Eighth Street.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the man was found unresponsive inside one of the apartments by family members, according to Miami-Dade police, which has taken over the investigation.

The man was an FIU student who lived at The One, FIU spokeswoman Maydel Santana said.

“We have been in touch with the family and are providing support to friends and classmates,” said Santana. “Our understanding is that no foul play is suspected.”

FIU’s housing web page lists The One, a privately owned complex managed by Landmark Properties, as an off-campus housing option for graduate students. The apartment units are leased only to students.

“Yesterday we discovered that a resident at The One passed away. Our hearts are saddened, and we extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones,” Landmark Properties said in an emailed statement. “We are cooperating with both the authorities and FIU.

“Out of respect for the privacy of the family and friends of the individual who passed, we will not be disclosing any specific details or identifying information.”

Miami-Dade detectives said they are waiting for the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s office to determine the cause of death. Police have not released the man’s identity.

Santana said support is being provided to students affected by the death through FIU’s Counseling & Psychological Services. Appointments can be made by calling 305-348-2277 (CAPS) or through the 24-hour hotline 305-348-2277 (CAPS) if it is an emergency, crisis or after hours.

This story was originally published September 28, 2020 at 1:16 PM.

Michelle Marchante
Miami Herald
Michelle Marchante covers the pulse of healthcare in South Florida and also the City of Coral Gables. Before that, she covered the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, crime, education, entertainment and other topics in South Florida for the Herald as a breaking news reporter. She recently won first place in the health reporting category in the 2025 Sunshine State Awards for her coverage of Steward Health’s bankruptcy. An investigative series about the abrupt closure of a Miami heart transplant program led Michelle and her colleagues to be recognized as finalists in two 2024 Florida Sunshine State Award categories. She also won second place in the 73rd annual Green Eyeshade Awards for her consumer-focused healthcare stories and was part of the team of reporters who won a 2022 Pulitzer Prize for the Miami Herald’s breaking news coverage of the Surfside building collapse. Michelle graduated with honors from Florida International University and was a 2025 National Press Foundation Covering Workplace Mental Health fellow and a 2020-2021 Poynter-Koch Media & Journalism fellow.  Support my work with a digital subscription
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