DaytonDailyNews.com

Springfield police are investigating the sudden death of a 21-year-old Wittenberg University student who died Wednesday morning.

Karl F. Fazli, of 40 W. College Ave., was found unconscious and unresponsive at his home about 10 a.m. He was later pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Center.

According to a Springfield Police Division report, Fazli attended a party on Park Place Tuesday night, and witnesses told police he had been drinking heavily.

An autopsy has been conducted, but no preliminary cause of death has been established, said Tom Comer, an investigator with the Clark County Coroner's Office.

Comer said results from the autopsy will not be back for several weeks.

"All of us in the Wittenberg family are shocked and deeply saddened by Karl's unexpected death," said Mark H. Erickson, university president.

Fazli, a junior from Indianapolis, was an English major and member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.

"He was a joy to be with and he'll be greatly missed," said John Marr, executive assistant to the president.

Marr traveled with Fazli and several other students to a study tour in Russia last year.

Marr said Fazli's death has sent shock waves among the students.

"They're taking it pretty hard," he said. "(The students) are at an age where this kind of thing just doesn't happen."

A regularly scheduled service at

11:20 a.m. Tuesday at Wittenberg's Weaver chapel will include time for mourners to remember Fazli.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com