Laura B. Houghteling '91, who disappeared last week from her home in Bethesda, Maryland, may have been murdered, according to local police.

Police found a bloodstained pillow and pillowcase from Houghteling's house last Friday in a wooded area two miles from her home, said Sgt. Harry E. Geehreng of the Montgomery County Police Department.

And although Houghteling's home shows no signs of forced entry, Geehreng said forensics tests detected residue of blood on the mattress, pillows and walls of her bedroom.

"We found a strong suggestion of foul play and the emphasis of the investigation shifted to homicide," said Geehreng. "We now think something happened in the bedroom, but we don't have a body or an instrument or anything to fully describe what happened."

Houghteling has been missing since October 19. Police searched the areas around her house but found no leads, according to Geehreng.

Houghteling, 23, lived in Leverett House and concentrated in history. She also founded the Leverett House Women's Group.

"Laura had a very high profile in the house," said Leverett House Co-Master Judith F. Dowling. "She was known and loved by many people. Laura was a very wonderful woman, a very strong woman."

Dowling said a service for Houghteling will be held in Washington D.C. next Sunday.

"We're all devastated," said Dowling. "It makes us all very sad that she had to meet with a violent death."

Megan C. Donahue '91, one of Houghteling's roommates who is now in Bethesda, was not available for comment. She described Houghteling to The Washington Post as "very smart, a very hard worker, a very strong person."

Geehreng said the main suspect in the investigation is a gardener employed by the Houghteling family, who was questioned and released on Friday.