Tragically, Maribel Ramos didn't get to graduate from CSU Fullerton, but the university awarded the murdered war veteran's degree to her family this past Sunday.
About 40 of Ramos’ family members attended the May 26 commencement, CBS News reports. Her 14-year-old niece accepted her criminal justice degree on her behalf.
“We’re very saddened by the tragedy of her death. But what we’re going to try to do today is really focus on celebrating her academic accomplishments as a Titan. She finished all of her degree requirements and she earned her degree in criminal justice in the College of HSS [Humanities and Social Sciences] and we are really proud of her accomplishment,” Commencement Operations Manager Paul Miller told CBS.
Family members told CBS2 they were more determined than ever to convict the man who killed her.
Ramos’ roommate, 54-year-old Kwang Choi Joy, was arrested and charged with her murder. Ramos asked Joy to move out because of his failure to pay rent and he allegedly killed her in the resulting argument.
Ramos, a former U.S. Army Sergeant, disappeared from her Orange apartment on May 2. Her body was discovered on May 16 at Santiago Canyon Road in Modjeska Canyon.
