The Franciscan University community in Steubenville, Ohio, is mourning the deaths of two students who were found inside a parked vehicle earlier this week. Police say the tragedy was accidental and the result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Officers were called on Monday, Jan. 19, to check on two individuals in a car parked behind St. Agnes Residence Hall. When officers arrived, they found 20-year-old students Luke Reimer of Indian Shores, Florida, and Mary Mich of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, inside the vehicle. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a statement from the Steubenville Police Department, “Officers located a male and female inside the vehicle and both were confirmed deceased. There were no signs of foul play and no signs of any drug use.”

Toxicology results later confirmed both died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Police said the deaths were ruled accidental and “appear to be caused by a problem with the vehicle’s exhaust.” Franciscan University President Rev. Dave Pivonka said early indicators suggest the tragedy was related to “a potential vehicle exhaust or engine malfunction.”

The news has shaken the small Catholic university known for its tight-knit campus life and strong faith culture. “This news brings profound sorrow to our entire Franciscan University community,” Pivonka said in a statement to students and families. “We grieve the loss of two young lives, and our hearts ache for their families, friends, classmates, professors, and all who knew and loved them.”

He added that the school is holding Luke, Mary, and their loved ones in prayer, “asking the Lord for comfort, mercy, and peace.”

The university canceled events Monday evening out of respect for the students and made counselors and friars available in residence halls for students processing the loss. The campus also gathered for a Holy Hour and Rosary to pray for the students and their families.

But beyond the immediate grief, many on campus are remembering Luke and Mary not only as classmates, but as a couple who shared life together. A post from Luke’s Instagram last November marked the couple’s first anniversary, saying, “One year with the most beautiful woman! I love you ❤️,” alongside photos of the pair. Friends noted how inseparable they seemed.

The university shared its own memorial on social media, posting a photo of the two with the caption, “Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them.” The school added, “Please join us in continuing to pray for Luke and Mary, and for all who are grieving their loss.”

In his message to students, Pivonka encouraged the community to lean on Christ in the midst of sorrow. “Let us remain united in faith, hope, and charity, carrying one another through this time of sorrow,” he wrote. “May Christ, who wept at the death of his friend Lazarus and who conquered death through his Resurrection, be our strength and our peace.”

The investigation is now closed, and university officials say they will continue providing support services for students as the campus processes the loss.

Lord, we ask You to comfort the families of Luke and Mary and all who are grieving. Give peace to their classmates and strength to the Franciscan University community. May perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.