Students At North St. Paul Mourn Classmate's Prom Night Death

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (WCCO) -- A night that is supposed to be one of the most memorable for high-schoolers turned tragic for a Maplewood teenager.

On Monday afternoon, students at North St. Paul High School remembered 18-year-old Anna Jaskulka.

The teen died Saturday night after attending her high school's prom at the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul.

Maplewood police believe the teenager was drinking that night.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner has not yet released the official cause of death.

Students say that, whatever happened, it serves as an important reminder for everyone else at school.

North St. Paul senior Josephine Vang was also at prom Saturday night.

"She had her whole life ahead of her and just for one night she completely loses it all," Vang said.

Vang believes some of the almost 600 students there were drunk, but she knows nobody could have imagined the tragedy that would happen later that night.

"A lot of people you could kinda tell were not themselves," Vang said.

Maplewood police say Jaskulka's parents picked her up from the prom early.

Just after 11 p.m., officers were called to the family's Maplewood home where Jaskulka was found unresponsive.

She died later at an area hospital.

Counselors were on hand at the high school as students returned to classes.

"There were lots of people crying, it was just really sad today," Vang said.

The school principal described Jaskulka as a student with a bright personality and kind heart.

While many grieve, some say questions and rumors are spreading.

"I wish people wouldn't gossip about her, she's dead and it's really sad the way she died, too," junior Jackie Wilson said. "They weren't in her position, you know, we can't change what happened to her."

As a community waits for answers, students reflect on a future cut short.

"Be careful what you do, it makes you think anything could happen in a split second," Vang said.

Maplewood police are investigating whether other substances played a role in Jaskulka's death.

An autopsy was slated to be performed on Monday.

The school says the family is making funeral arrangements and is asking for privacy.