STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has confirmed that the deaths of two Franciscan University of Steubenville students found inside a parked car earlier this week were accidental and caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
The students, identified as 20-year-old Luke Reimer of Indian Shores, Florida, and 20-year-old Mary Mich of Pennsylvania, were discovered Monday inside a vehicle in the parking lot of St. Agnes Residence Hall, according to university officials. Investigators determined the poisoning was linked to a vehicle exhaust leak, a rare but well-documented hazard that can prove fatal within minutes in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
Franciscan University announced the findings in a statement, noting that all campus events were canceled Monday evening as students, faculty, and staff grappled with the sudden loss. “While this information may bring some clarity, it does not lessen the profound grief we feel at the loss of two beloved members of our Franciscan family,” the university said, urging the community to keep the families and loved ones in prayer.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the close-knit Catholic campus and the wider Steubenville community. Grief counselors and campus ministry staff were made available to students, reflecting a growing emphasis nationwide on mental health and crisis support following traumatic incidents on college campuses.
Carbon monoxide poisoning remains a leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States, according to public health experts, often resulting from faulty vehicles or exhaust systems. Safety officials stress the importance of regular vehicle maintenance and awareness of symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and nausea.
For many on campus, however, the focus remains on remembering Luke and Mary as individuals, not statistics. “They were known, they were loved, and they mattered,” said one student, who asked not to be named. “This loss is something we’ll carry together.”
University leaders say memorial plans will be shared in the coming days as the community continues to mourn.
