Two University of Wisconsin-Platteville students died Monday in what authorities described as a “targeted and isolated” incident inside a campus residence hall.
The victims, Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms, both 22, were found in Wilgus Hall, where they had lived. The university confirmed their deaths in an email to students late Monday night.
Martin, of Beloit, served as a resident advisor at Wilgus Hall for three years and majored in psychology. Helms, from Baraboo, was an elementary education major. Both women graduated during UW-Platteville’s commencement ceremony on Saturday.
The campus issued a shelter-in-place order Monday afternoon after police reported an emergency situation in the residence hall. The order was lifted around 5 p.m. University officials are working with the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, Grant County authorities and city police to investigate the incident.
In response, the university canceled final exams for the remainder of the week on both the Platteville and Baraboo campuses.
Alaina Walsh is the associate news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has covered breaking news on city crimes and a variety of state and campus stories, including the 2024 presidential election and the UW-Madison budget.
