Brittany Zimmermann Murder 2008

Brittany Sue Zimmermann
21-year-old UW-Madison junior from Marshfield, WI
Found April 2, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. by her fiancée, Jordan Gonnering (22)
First-floor apartment at 517 W. Doty St.

The killer broke through a door to get into her apartment before killing her. "There was forced entry on a door to the building in which Zimmermann resided."

She died from "a complexity of traumatic injuries," the coroner said. An official familiar with the investigation said she was stabbed.

Homicide victim called for help, 911 chief "We fumbled the call"
Dane County's 911 Center director admitted May 1, 2008 that his agency made a mistake in fumbling a call from Brittany Zimmermann's cell phone. The dispatcher who hung up on the call, after hearing nothing remains on the job. An internal investigation has begun, and dispatchers were reminded of the policy to call back when a 911 caller hangs up or is disconnected, he said.

The gaffe at the 911 center, disclosed Thursday by the weekly newspaper Isthmus, prompted a news conference by 911 chief Norwick and by Madison Police Chief Noble Wray. Norwick said the dispatcher got busy with other calls and forgot to call back to Zimmermann's phone. "Other 911 calls were waiting, But had we called it back and got the same result — or if we got somebody's voice mail — we probably wouldn't have sent anybody anyway." Norwick said the 911 center gets many accidental or erroneous phone calls. On the day Zimmermann was killed, 115 hang-up calls were received, and 83 of them were from cell phones.

Police Chief Wray, however, said the 911 center ignored evidence in the call "which should have resulted in a Madison police officer being dispatched."

Slain Woman's Fiancée Released From Lease
There was some question as to if Gonnering would be released from the remaining time on his lease for the apartment. He said he's willing to live in another one of the company's properties until his lease runs out in August 2009 - just not the one where his fiancée was murdered. Initially the owner of Wisconsin Management Co., wouldn't say if his company would insist that he fulfill the remaining 16 months. Eventually though they released a statement saying "We have had the opportunity to speak with Jordan's parents. After discussing what the family wanted, we have decided to release all parties from any lease obligations."

Zimmermann Scholarship Drive Launched
The family of slain UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann has established a scholarship in her name. "Dollars for Brittany" is coordinated through the Marshfield Medical Center Credit Union. Contributions to the fund may be sent to the Brittany Zimmermann Memorial Fund, Marshfield Medical Center Credit Union, P.O. Box 279, Marshfield, WI 54449.