Detectives in Passaic County are investigating the death of a 21-year-old woman who was found dead in the bedroom of her apartment with her hands bound behind her back Sunday afternoon.

An autopsy performed Monday determined that Kimberly Santos died of asphyxiation, but the Passaic County prosecutor?s office is stopping short of calling the death a murder. She was found by her roommate. County officials say they are still working with law enforcement on the case.

Santos?s family members were inconsolable as they talked about their loved one.

?She would always be there for you,? sister Bexzabe Santos said. ?It's too upsetting, knowing that she's gone like this. It hurts too much."

The family is calling for the guilty party to come forward.

Kimberly Santos was a student at William Paterson University. Her family says she was an A student and had a degree in biology. She was also working on becoming a pharmacist and would have graduated this year.

Related Information:If you have information on the death of Kimberly Santos, contact:Passaic Police Dept.330 Passaic StPassaic, NJ 07055Phone: (973) 365-3900 The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office 401 Grand Street, 7th floor Paterson, NJ 07505Phone: (973) 881-4800