MADISON, Wis. -- Students who live along West Doty Street said Tuesday they will feel safer once police catch the killer of a University of Wisconsin-Madison student who lived nearby.

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According to newly released search warrants, Brittany Zimmermann was lifeless and cold when her roommate found her in the afternoon of April 2 in their apartment on West Doty Street.

The search warrants stated that an autopsy on Zimmermann revealed she died of "complex homicidal violence," specifically multiple sharp force trauma wounds and multiple blunt force trauma blows. The documents said a stranger likely killed Zimmermann after forcing entry through a security locked front door and going through a second apartment door.

Months after Zimmermann's slaying, West Doty Street residents said they are still on edge.

"I still get really creeped out. I'm scared to walk alone at night," said Ashley Hembrook, who lives on West Doty Street. "It makes me feel unsafe."

Zimmermann's killing motivated Hembrook to carry pepper spray for protection.

"I probably never would have signed a lease down here if that would have happened before, but there's nothing I can really do about it," Hembrook said.

Residents said the newly released details in the slaying make them feel less secure.

"It was just a scary thing to think that someone just was coming home from class real early in the day, the middle of the day, that something like that could even happen around campus," said Kevin Rohrer, a West Doty Street resident.

The students said they are also concerned about other incidents in the neighborhood.

"Actually, when we first moved into the house in August our house was broken into by somebody while we were gone, so it's something that you are concerned about," said resident Nick Lemin.

"Some guy was banging on the door and I had to call the cops," Hembrook said.

Residents said police patrol the street, but Lemin said officers don't patrol it "as often as we'd like to given what happened."

Residents said they will feel a stronger sense of security when police solve the slaying.

"I hope there are people out there that have some kind of information that will maybe come forward if they didn't before, or maybe this information that has come out now can help find the person who is responsible and bring some closure to the case," Rohrer said.

One of the residents WISC-TV spoke with said he wasn't bothered by the fact police had not released more information sooner, saying that he believes the Madison Police Department has everyone's best interest at heart.

The Madison Police Department released a statement Tuesday saying that investigators would have preferred the search warrants remain sealed, but they don't believe the information will jeopardize their case because the investigation has advanced since Zimmermann's body was found in April.

Police said that much of the information contained in the documents is dated, but they said the details are "difficult, sad and troubling."

The statement said detectives "remain focused, and are making progress in tracking down Brittany's killer/killers." It said the department remains "committed to solving this case" but also asks for patience from the public because "resolving stranger homicides is often time intensive."

A reward fund for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for Zimmermann's death is at $14,000. Police said there is also up to $1,000 in Crime Stoppers' money available in this case, and anyone with information is urged to call Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.