Springfield woman killed in murder-suicide awarded honorary Wright State degree

Andrea Heiser was “dedicated to completing her degree” before she was killed earlier this year. Now she has.

The late 21-year-old was granted a posthumous degree from Wright State University, where she would have been a senior this year. Within her statistics program, “she was held in very high regard among faculty,” according to Wright State records.

“Andrea Heiser was a dedicated member of the Kappa Delta Sorority and a gifted senior statistics major at Wright State University who was committed to completing her degree,” said Cheryl Schrader, Wright State University’s president. “By awarding Andrea a posthumous Bachelor of Science degree, Wright State recognizes her accomplishments and contributions and honors her memory.”

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Heiser and her mother Jennifer Sirons were killed by Eric Sirons, Jennifer’s husband, before he turned the gun on himself in May, according to Springfield Police.

After Heiser’s death, Wright State released a statement saying the university was mourning the loss of a student and friend.

“She was very, very sweet, she was very talkative, very bubbly, she was very friendly with everyone in our group,” said one of her classmates, Morgan Plummer at a memorial service a week after the murder-suicide.

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Her sorority also released a statement after her death saying she was a “positive light” with “a smile always on her face and an excitement to get involved.”

“Andrea had a contagious smile that could brighten the darkest room,” her obituary said. “Her enthusiasm for life and to bring joy to others was evident everywhere she went and will be deeply missed but forever cherished. Andrea was known for her selfless big heart, and would put everyone’s feelings above her own.”

The Wright State board approved the degree at its Sept. 21 board meeting.

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