Anoop Desai was eliminated from [article id="1605369"]"American Idol" two weeks ago[/article], only to be given a second chance in this week's wild-card round, and then, he thought, cut again last night. But in one of those "shocking" twists that only happen in reality shows, [article id="1606433"]Simon Cowell told Anoop[/article] they decided to bend the rules and let the 22-year-old move on to the finals.

But it's what Anoop said after he finished singing that's attracting attention now.

"It's been a tough day, we're all thinking of Eve, and I love you, Chapel Hill," Anoop announced, perplexing millions upon millions of viewers at home -- and even Simon Cowell, who, in what might be an "Idol" first, was seen asking fellow judge Paula Abdul for clarification.

Desai was referring to Eve Carson, the student body president of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who, in an incident that garnered national media attention, was tragically kidnapped and murdered one year ago today. The 22-year-old former valedictorian of her high school class had been shot several times. Her body was found at approximately 5 a.m. on March 5, 2008, lying in a Chapel Hill street, and $1,400 was withdrawn from various ATM's using Carson's debit card in the days after she was killed.

In the weeks following the murder, police arrested two men, 21-year-old Demario James Atwater and 17-year-old Laurence Alvin Lovette. Both are still in prison awaiting trial. And get this: Lovette, the 17-year-old, was eventually linked to another murder, that of Duke University student Abhijit Mahato.

According to News 14 Carolina, thousands of students came together yesterday to remember Eve in an afternoon campus ceremony. But when then Anoop gave her a shout-out last night on the nation's most-watched television show, they were likely joined by millions at home.

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