Glendale Police have identified a suspect that they believe to be responsible for the disappearance of Yuliya Kumirova, 38, a GCC adjunct faculty member.

When investigating a death in Glendale, police detectives found the body of Thomas J. Wieduwilt, 44, who was also a suspect identified in Kumirova’s disappearance.. His death was an apparent “self-induced overdose of pills,” said detectives.

While at Wieduwilt’s home, near 51st Avenue and Union Hills, police discovered evidence in his home and in his a red Dodge pickup truck that may tie him to Kumirova’s abduction.

Upon closer investigation and DNA testing, Department of Public Safety officials were able to match the blood from the parking lot of LA Fitness at 55th Avenue and Bell Road with the blood from Wieduwilt’s truck.

At this time police are unsure of a relationship that Wieduwilt and Kumirova had. They do know that both were members of LA Fitness and the gym’s records show they were at the gym on the evening, Oct. 31, during the same time.

As she left the gym, Kumirova, struggled with an abductor in the parking lot of the gym. Her husband reported her missing on Nov. 1, and police investigated the scene for foul play.

According to police, large quantities of blood and clothing were found near her van and she was presumed to be dead.

As of press time, Kumirova has not been found.

A Russian native, Kumirova worked as a math instructor in the Ukraine for 10 years before she came to the United States in 1996.

Kumirova taught introductory math at Trevor G. Browne High School during the day. At night she taught math at GCC. She is well liked by her students and her co-workers.

“She looked at algebra as if it were a foreign language,” says Maria Izabel Zavala, a former GCC student of Kumirova. “Yulyia took the time to help the student learn and to ask, ‘What is it you don’t understand?’ She took the time to see me,” Zavala added.

“She has a very different teaching technique,” said Tom Foley, assistant chair of GCC Math Department. “She’s humorous, making math fun, and she truly has respect for her students.”

Kumirova’s disappearance has been difficult for both schools who valued her teaching; but according to Foley, it has been the hardest on her students.

“For many of the students, she is the first math teacher that they ever connected with both with learning the material, and with realizing the teacher was a real person,” Foley says.

Foley and Marjane Maton of the Counseling Center, spoke with current students who recently found out and who are coping with Yuliya’s disappearance.

She helped her students with personal problems, said Foley. She laughed with them, comforted them, and treated them as though they were friends and family.

Arrangements have been made for other adjunct teachers to take over her classes.