Mother of American student stabbed to death in Netherlands 'totally in shock' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Donee Odegard knew what happened the minute two sheriffs showed up at her door. She'd been through it before.

The authorities asked her a few questions about her daughter, Sarah Papenheim, before delivering the news: Her daughter had been stabbed to death while studying abroad in the Netherlands.

"He was sad to inform me that my beautiful daughter had passed. I kind of knew it was coming when you have done this before," said Odegard, whose son had committed suicide at 21 three years ago, in an interview with "Good Morning America."

"When he started answering me questions, there is no way sheriffs come to your door unless you committed a crime," she continued. "You kind of know what they are going to say."

PHOTO: Sarah Papenheim died Wednesday afternoon after she was attacked at her apartment in Rotterdam. December 13, 2018. (Facebook/Sarah Papenheim) More

Papenheim, a Minnesotan native, died Wednesday afternoon after she was attacked at her apartment in Rotterdam, according to Rotterdam police and Minneapolis ABC affiliate KSTP.

The suspect, a 23-year-old Dutch man, lived in the same building as Papenheim, and the two were believed to be acquaintances, Rotterdam police said.

A source close to the investigation told ABC News the suspect's name is Joel Schelling.

The suspect was arrested about an hour after officers found her body, police said. He was located at a train station about 60 miles from Rotterdam.

PHOTO: The suspect in the stabbing death of an American student as he was arrested at the Eindhoven train station. (Erik van Der Heijden) More

Odegard said the man was a cello player and her daughter was a talented jazz drummer. Both were studying music.

"They loved talking about music," Odegard said. "There was times he would have highs and lows.

PHOTO: Sarah Papenheim, 21, was found stabbed to death in her home where she was studying abroad in Rotterdam, Netherlands. December 13, 2018. (Facebook/Sarah Papenheim) More

"Nothing concerned me until the last time I talked to her when she told me this story," Odegard added. "She said, 'Mommy he did this. He is acting strange.'"

Odegard said she told her daughter to "not be around him," but as relayed by her mother, Papenheim said, "Mom, he is my friend. I am his only friend. He would get angry, but I can always talk him down and change his mind."

No motive has been established, police said.

(MORE: Trial opens in 2016 death of US student Beau Solomon found dead in Rome)

Papenheim attended Erasmus University in the Netherlands, Rotterdam police said.

"The university is shocked by this terrible incident and is taking care of upset students and employees and will act towards relatives according to our protocols," a university spokeswoman said in a statement. "We encourage our students and staff not to let each other alone in this difficult time and to get in touch with student-advisors and psychologists if they want to."

PHOTO: Papenheim was a Minnesota native who was studying in the Netherlands when she was killed Wednesday. December 13, 2018. (Facebook/Sarah Papenheim) More

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