The University of Wisconsin student who found his fianc?e
slain in their West Doty Street apartment was released from his lease, a
management company announced Monday.
The Wisconsin Management Company relieved Jordan Gonnering
and Brittany Zimmermann’s estate of the remaining 16 months on the lease at 517
W. Doty St.
Gonnering lived in the apartment with Zimmermann, a
21-year-old UW junior who was killed in the apartment April 2. Police are
actively seeking information from everyone who was in the area the day of and
before Zimmermann’s death but have no suspects in the case.
Russ Endres, president of Wisconsin Management, declined to
tell the Wisconsin State Journal last week whether the company would let
Gonnering out of the lease.
“We felt it inappropriate, one week after the incident,
to discuss particulars of the lease situation until we had spoken to the
families,” Endres said in a statement. “After discussing what the
family wanted, we have decided to release all parties from any lease obligations.”
City Council President Mike Verveer, District 4, was one of
the city alders working to intervene on Gonnering’s behalf.
“I think it’s unfortunate [Wisconsin Management] put
Jordan through all the agony and worrying about his lease for the past several
days,” Verveer said. “I’m relieved Wisconsin Property Management
finally did the right thing.”
The Student Tenant Union’s rent boycott for Wisconsin
Management student renters was short-lived, as the management company announced
the contract release about the same time the Tenant Union sent out its boycott
information.
UW senior Joe Lindstrom said it is very fortunate that what
the student organization hoped for occurred.
“We hope other landlords see that when they are
unreasonably greedy, there is a heavy price to pay in public image,”
Lindstrom said. “Wisconsin Management Company, after a lot of urging from
the community, finally did the right thing.”
According to Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, when a person
dies, his or her estate is still responsible for paying rent until a new tenant
moves in. Zimmermann’s estate will be relieved of the lease.
