JOHN SCHREIBER / SMU Daily Campus

Jacob "Jake" Stiles was crowned Mr. University in an SMU competition on Nov. 2.

Investigators were trying to determine Monday why a 20-year-old student from Naperville, Ill., was found dead in his room at a Southern Methodist University fraternity house.

An autopsy on the body of Jacob Stiles has been performed, but authorities were awaiting toxicology results, according to the Dallas County medical examiner's office. University police said the sophomore was discovered dead about 1:30 p.m. Saturday and it was not believed his death was related to hazing.

Members of his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, joined other students at a prayer service for him Sunday at Perkins Chapel on campus.

"We're ... just shocked that something so horrible would happen," said SMU freshman Katie Horner, noting that the fraternity held a Christmas party off campus Friday and members returned late that night.

A fraternity representative said Mr. Stiles was last seen alive early Saturday.

“He was an absolute wonderful guy,” said Jeff Tolbert, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. “It’s been really hard the last few days because of his personality and who he is.”

A month ago, Mr. Stiles won the title of Mr. University in a fund-raising pageant held by the Pi Beta Phi sorority after participating in sportswear and formalwear competitions and a question and answer session. Mr. Stiles read “How to date an SMU girl” as part of the talent competition, according to a story in the SMU Daily Campus newspaper.

Scores of Mr. Stiles’ friends from high school and college expressed their sorrow and grief in messages posted on his Facebook account.

In his profile, Mr. Stiles discussed his fondness for his fraternity and his summer job as a lifeguard. He said favorite pastimes included golf, keg tossing and the television shows “Nip/Tuck” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” He also wrote that he was majoring in physical education.

In one posting, a friend wrote: “Jake, you were such a smart, funny and all around amazing person. I don’t think there is one person in Naperville that could call you an enemy. Remember when we went to Tom’s lake house this summer and Lindsey and I pierced your ears, or when you fell off the golf cart about 17 times?”

Students at SMU, who are studying for and taking finals, were trying to come to terms with the news about Mr. Stiles’ death.

“I just couldn’t imagine that it would happen here,” said Austin Richman, a sophomore and member of Phi Gamma Delta. “It’s absolutely devastating.”

John Howard, another Phi Gamma Delta member, said Mr. Stiles was popular and active in the school’s Greek activities.

“He was the life-of-the-party sort of dude, the kind of guy you want to be around,” he said. “You felt really comfortable around him.”

WFAA-TV contributed to this report.

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