Thaindian News

Alexis Cohen, the Allentown, Pa., college student who twice auditioned for American Idol has been killed in what authorities are saying appears to be a homicide.

Cohen first appeared on the top ranking Fox reality program in 2007 at the age of 23 and again in January 2008. On both occasions she failed to progress past the audition stage but shot to notoriety after video of an abusive outburst directed at show judge Simon Cowell went viral on the internet.

Deputy Chief Michael Mohel of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said Cohen was found dead at about 4am Saturday lying on the side of the road by a driver and passenger in a passing vehicle. Her car was found about 300 yards (275 meters) away in a parking area.

He said an autopsy conducted Saturday revealed chest and abdominal injuries and a closed head injury caused by collision with a vehicle.

In an interview preceding her 2007 appearance on American Idol, Cohen said she was studying to be a veterinarian and claimed to “march to the beat of a different drummer”.

At the time the would-be entertainer said she lived in a one bedroom studio apartment with her mother, two cats and a dog named Coco.

On the program she told the judges her singing style had been compared to Janice Joplin, Grace Slick and four-time Grammy winning vocalist, Pat Benatar.