SAN ANTONIO -- Students of an Alamo Heights teacher who was found murdered over the weekend returned Monday to their school struggling to make sense about her death.

"It's just not fair," said Courtney Touchette, one of Dianne Tilley's students at Robbins Academy. "It's very sad."

Touchette and fellow classmates were greeted with warm hugs by teachers as they arrived on campus.

Students met with grief counselors and scribbled messages of appreciation on a makeshift memorial in front of the campus, where Tilly changed students' lives for six years.

"I'm gonna graduate early because of her," said Ashley Levinson, one of Tilly's students. "She gave me the confidence and the inspiration."

Levinson and other students said Tilly was the kind of teacher who believed in every student.

In memory of Tilly's passion and philosophy, the academy is creating a scholarship in the educator's honor.

"I think that will be a wonderful tribute to her because it would be something where students who leave this academy can go on to college," said Kevin Brown, public information director of Alamo Heights Independent School District.

After being reported missing since Nov. 23, Tilly's remains were found buried in a field Saturday in northeast Bexar County.

Ronnie Neal, 33, is charged with capital murder in connection with Tilly's death.

Neal's 15-year-old daughter, Pearl Ann Cruz, who led authorities to Tilly's body, is being held in juvenile custody on a charge of aggravated robbery.

According to an affidavit, Cruz knocked on the educator's door the night of Nov. 22 and asked her if she could use her telephone because her car had broken down.

Moments later, Neal burst into the home and forced Tilly to a room, where he allegedly raped her while Cruz held a gun on her.

The pair then drove Tilly to a field where she was allegedly shot several times and buried under some brush near a fishing pond.

Funeral arrangements for Tilly are pending.