The UA student accused of killing her roommate tried to make the slaying look like a suicide and stabbed the victim several times while she was sleeping, according to a court document released Thursday afternoon.
Galareka Harrison, 18, was charged with first-degree murder Thursday morning and is being held in Pima County jail on $50,000 bond.
Mia J. Henderson, also an 18-year-old freshman, was fatally wounded in a struggle with Harrison early Wednesday at the University of Arizona's Graham-Greenlee Residence Hall, 610 N. Highland Ave., police said.
Speaking for Harrison's family, Judith Jake of Chinle, Harrison's aunt, said the family was not aware of the allegations contained in the court document and does not believe them.
She said her niece had visited home last week and made no mention of problems at the school or with her roommate, so news of theft claims, orders of protection and other allegations have come as a surprise.
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She said if school officials knew there were problems between the two students, they never informed the family.
"Why were they in the same room? They should have been separated," said Jake.
According to a probable-cause statement filed in court, Harrison purchased a knife on Wednesday. She was upset at her roommate for accusing her of forgery and theft, the document says.
After purchasing a knife, Harrison wrote a note — pretending to be Henderson — saying the forgery incident was false and that Henderson wanted to end her own life, according to the document.
"The victim was asleep in her own bed," the document says. "The defendant left the note on the victim's desk. After several minutes to reflect on the situation, the defendant stabbed the victim numerous times. The victim died as a result of the injuries."
Sgt. Eugene Mejia, a UAPD spokesman, did not return phone calls seeking comment on the court document Thursday.
Harrison declined a request for an interview Thursday morning.
David Berkman, chief criminal deputy Pima County attorney, said his office asked that Harrison's bail be set at $1 million.
"We will be filing motions to increase that bond," he said.
When asked why he rejected the prosecutor's request for $1 million bond, Judge Michael Pollard said the judicial canon of ethics prevents him from discussing ongoing cases.
Those who knew Henderson said she had a bright future. She was a strong student and a good athlete. Both she and Harrison were members of the Navajo Nation.
Henderson — who was from Tuba City, north of Flagstaff — was interested in a medical career in genetics, sports medicine or dentistry. Harrison was a business student and also a strong student and athlete.
The two teens had been placed together in a dormitory program geared to help American Indians succeed at a big-city campus.
But conflict emerged between them in the first few weeks of the school year.
UA Police Chief Anthony Daykin said Wednesday that Henderson accused her roommate of property theft and filed a police report on Aug. 28.
He would not discuss details of the case because it involves another theft case in which Harrison is an investigative lead. UA police wouldn't release either theft report.
Henderson moved out of the dorm and was offered alternate living arrangements by the UA, but she refused the offer and returned to Graham-Greenlee.
Police haven't said why Henderson returned to the dorm.
Raymond Maxx, Tuba City's council delegate for the Navajo Nation, said Thursday that Henderson's family was not ready to comment to the media.
