The Associated Press

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Security was repeatedly breached at the Western Kentucky University dormitory where Katie Autry was assaulted, raped and burned alive last spring, an inspection of school records shows.

Employees at Hugh Poland Hall during the 2002-2003 school year recorded 38 instances in which residents or guests did not show identification, The Courier-Journal newspaper of Louisville reported Sunday.

A wrongful-death lawsuit filed against the university and others alleges that lax security at the dorm contributed to the death of freshman Melissa "Katie" Autry in May 2003. It says the university negligently failed to enforce its own security policies.

Autry, 18, of Pellville, was found burned on May 4 in her room at Poland Hall. She died three days later at a hospital in Nashville, Tenn. Two Scottsville men, 21-year-old Lucas Goodrum and 20-year-old Stephen Soules, are awaiting trial on murder charges in Autry's death.

According to university records, some Poland Hall residents became angry when resident assistants or desk clerks asked to see their IDs. Guests frequently got in without registering or showing their ID, violating school policy. Of the 254 student violations, this category tied with vandalism at 38 for the second-most commonly reported in 2002-2003.

The most common type of violation - 78 reported instances - was candles or improper use of electrical outlets.

Maranda Worrell, a resident assistant at Poland Hall from August 2002 until January 2003, said security had been "a huge, huge problem."

"I'd say we had a bigger problem with people sneaking in than anything," said Worrell, who has since transferred to another school. She considered quitting because of security concerns.

But another resident assistant, Ryan Dearborne, said security did not concern him and that staff followed security procedures. "It was a fun place," Dearborne said. "It was a safe dorm. Nothing out of the ordinary happened there. Basically, whatever happened in the other dorms happened there."

Western Kentucky officials refused to comment on the incident reports because of the lawsuit.

The suit names five individuals, including the former hall director and an assistant hall director, as well as three resident assistants at the time Autry was attacked. Other defendants are the WKU Student Life Foundation, Pikes Inc. and Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. The foundation owns the residence halls.

Autry and her alleged assailants are believed to have attended a party at the fraternity hours before the fatal attack.

Autry's mother and an aunt filed the wrongful death suit in September. The suit seeks compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost earnings and pain and suffering.

Western Kentucky University is seeking to have the suit dismissed, citing government immunity. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Monday in Warren County Circuit Court. Five individuals named as defendants along with the university also are seeking dismissal of the suit in Warren County Circuit Court.