Bradley's Pastucha Killed Self

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) â€” Bradley basketball player Lynn Pastucha committed suicide by taking about 900 over-the-counter pain pills, the coroner's office said. <br><br>The 19-year-old woman from Peoria

Monday, October 16th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) â€” Bradley basketball player Lynn Pastucha committed suicide by taking about 900 over-the-counter pain pills, the coroner's office said.

The 19-year-old woman from Peoria was found dead in her university apartment Sept. 7. Pastucha, carrying a 4.0 grade-point average into her sophomore year at Bradley, set a single-season record for blocks as a freshman.

``There's an awful lot of pressure put on these kids that can lead to depression,'' coroner Dan Heinz said Thursday. ``This girl, in her mind, had to perform well because she was from Peoria.''

Coaches and teammates said they noticed no signs of depression or other problems. Pastucha left no suicide note.

A receipt for numerous bottles of pain killers found in her apartment showed a purchase date of Sept. 6.

``Some were empty, some were practically empty,'' Peoria police Detective Pat Rabe said.

Pastucha set the Illinois state high school record for most blocked shots in a season and career.