Tragically, early Thursday morning, the JMU community lost a beloved member, first-year student Bernard Stapelfeld, in Frederikson Hall, a residence hall in the Village. Hailing from Pennsylvania, Bernard was not just a student; he was a finance major and an honors student, according to an announcement by Bethany Blackstone, the Honors College dean.
Expressing her heartfelt condolences, Blackstone said, “On behalf of the Honors team, I offer our deepest condolences to those who knew and loved him.” The campus notification, along with Blackstone’s message, urged students to utilize mental health resources like the Counseling Center and TimelyCare for support during this difficult time.
Even the JMU Boarderline, a ski and snowboard club on campus, where Stapelfeld was a member, took to Instagram to share their sorrow. “Ben was a fantastic kid, loved by so many in our club. He is already deeply missed,” expressed a part of their statement.
JMU Assistant Vice President of Communications and university spokesperson Mary-Hope Vass addressed the situation, assuring that the Virginia State Police were leading the investigation and emphasizing that there was no threat to campus safety. “This is a tragic loss to our campus community, and we offer our condolences to those grieving,” Vass stated.
Coffey, in an email, disclosed that the 19-year-old was discovered deceased in the residence hall around 2:30 a.m. Thursday. He assured that the death did not appear to be suspicious, and the investigation was still ongoing.
The Virginia State Police, summoned to assist in the investigation, reported that the 19-year-old man was found dead in an on-campus dorm at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Culpeper Field Office is collaborating with the James Madison University Police Department to delve into the circumstances surrounding his tragic passing.