2 female UW-Platteville students die in ‘targeted and isolated’ incident

Two University of Wisconsin-Platteville female students died in a “targeted and isolated” dorm incident Monday. 

The women were identified as Kelsie Martin, 22, of Beloit, and Hallie Helms, 22, of Baraboo, in an email sent to the campus at about 11 p.m. Monday. 

Both women lived in the Wilgus Hall dormitory, where students were ordered to shelter in place late Monday afternoon after police reported an “emergency situation.”

The order was lifted at about 5 p.m.

Martin and Helms graduated Saturday, according to the school’s commencement program.

According to Martin’s LinkedIn profile, she was a campus resident advisor, or RA, who “responded to various emergencies around the hall including but not limited to mental health, hate and bias and policy violations.” 

A campus profile of Martin said she was an RA at Wilgus Hall for three years, majoring in psychology. 

Helms was an elementary education major. 

“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of two UW-Platteville students, Wisconsin,” Chancellor Tammy Evetovich said in an email to campus. “The wellbeing of our Pioneer community is my biggest concern. Please take the time to take care of yourself and others.”

UW-Platteville officials are working with the state crime lab, Grant County and the city. Counseling services have been made available to students.

Final exams have been cancelled for the rest of the week on both the Platteville and Baraboo campuses.

“We are a close-knit community,” Laura Reynolds, provost and vice chancellor of student affairs, said Monday night. “Both the faculty and staff as well as the students need time to be together. They need time to work through this together. We are deeply saddened, and know this event has negative impact on our Pioneers, and we know students will want to be able to focus on their own well-being and spend time with friends and families.”

Gov. Tony Evers on social media said, “I’ve been briefed on the situation at UW-Platteville, and we will continue to remain in close contact with university officials. As we await more information, please keep UW-Platteville students, faculty, staff, and the greater Platteville community in your thoughts.”

Western Wisconsin Congressman Derrick Van Orden also posted on social media Monday that he was aware of a “potential tragedy” on campus.

“My staff and I are in close communication with the police and sheriffs departments. We are praying for the best potential outcome and are standing by to assist in any way possible from the federal government,” he said.

UW-Platteville is located in Grant County. It has a total enrollment of about 6,391 students.