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Pierce College student is strangled in London

By Daily News

A 20-year-old Agoura Hills student was slain while traveling in London last month, authorities said Thursday.

Alyson Kaplan, who attended Pierce College, was strangled by a transient who lured her into a London hotel room during a fierce storm on Jan. 30, family friend Steven Bennett said.

Kaplan had been on a monthlong trip to Italy and England where her longtime friend lived, Bennett said. On Jan. 30 she was set to met her friend in Bristol but was delayed after a storm. With the subway shut down and her bus stalled, Kaplan found herself stranded at the Victoria Station subway, Bennett said.

She called her friend and arranged to met her at Luton airport, but she never arrived.

The Metropolitan Police Service's Serious Crime Group West, which is investigating the case, was not available for comment on Thursday afternoon.

Memorial services are tentatively scheduled for Feb. 23 but no location has been selected. The family set up a Web site in honor of Kaplan. Friends and family can leave their condolences at www.alysonkaplan.com.