Huntsville police are investigating the death of a Sam Houston State University student whose body was found in her apartment earlier this week after an apparent drug overdose.

Kendyl Burch, 21, was found by friends in her apartment in the 500 block of Bowers Boulevard on Monday.

According to Lt. Jim Barnes of the HPD Criminal Investigations Division, Burch's friends went to her apartment to look for her after being unable to reach her for several days.

They found the door unlocked, and Burch's body slumped on the couch, fully-clothed, with the television still on.

Huntsville police responded to the scene along with emergency medical technicians, but the body was cold to the touch and Burch was pronounced dead at the scene. Walker County Precinct Four Justice of the Peace James Mature performed the inquest.

Barnes said items of drug paraphernalia were found at the scene, but no substances. Toxicology reports on Burch's body are pending.

"It appears to be an overdose, but we're investigating all angles," Barnes said.

The death was the second of an apparent overdose in two weeks. Melissa Abernathy, 21, died at Huntsville Memorial Hospital on April 27 after ingesting a cleaning product said to have effects similar to alcohol. Both deaths are still under investigation.

"We're doing full investigations into both of these," Barnes said. "Although they appear to be overdoses, we're not ruling out other possibilities. This should be a wake-up call to citizens on the dangers of illegal drugs."