Ridley High grad found dead at Temple U. library

A former Ridley High School student has died after he was found unresponsive in the Samuel L. Paley Library at Temple University Monday.

Michael Paytas, 24, of Holmes, was pronounced dead soon afterward at Hahnemann University Hospital university, officials confirmed Wednesday.

A senior marketing major, Paytas graduated from Ridley in 2011 and attended Delaware County Community College before transferring to Temple in 2014.

“We are deeply saddened to inform the Temple community of the passing of Michael Paytas, a fourth-year marketing major from Holmes, Pennsylvania,” reads a statement from Temple President Richard M. Englert. “We extend our thoughts and prayers to Michael’s family, friends, classmates and faculty.”

No foul play is suspected in Paytas’ death, said Brandon Lausch, a university spokesman. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s office has not yet determined the cause of death.

Paytas is the fourth Temple University student to die this semester.

Jenna Nicole Burleigh, 22, of Harleysville, Montgomery County, disappeared in the early hours of Aug. 31 near a Templearea bar. Her body was found 135 miles north of Philadelphia in Wayne County on the property of her alleged killer’s grandmother’s house. The accused, Joshua Hupperterz, 29, of Philadelphia, is facing charges of murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering of evidence. Hupperterz was in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

Freshman mechanical engineering student Richard Dalcourt, 19, died after jumping from the top floor of 1940 Residence Hall onto Liacouras Walk around 10:30 a.m. on October 4.

Cariann Hithon, 22, a transfer student from Bowie, Md., was killed by Miami police on October 10 after running over an officer in an attempt to flee a crowded accident scene. One of the officers opened fire, striking and killing Hithon.

Englert encourage students needing support to visit Tuttleman Counseling Services at 1700 N. Broad St., Philadelphia.