Judge enters ‘not guilty’ plea for Springboro grad; victim shot, stabbed

Prosecutor hasn’t determined whether to seek death penalty.


Saint Frances Cabrini Parish in West Bend, Wis., released this statement on behalf of the family of Andrew Boldt.

“Saint Frances Cabrini Parish community, along with all of West Bend, the community of Marquette High School, and friends of the Boldt family, are deeply saddened by the tragic news of Andrew’s death. The Boldt Family has been in contact with the parish and has asked for their privacy at this time. They are truly grateful for everyone’s prayers and support. In the days ahead, further details will be offered about public opportunities to pray as a faith community and with the Boldt Family. Please continue to offer your prayers for everyone who grieves.”

Andrew Boldt Funeral Details and Update

Father Nathan Reesman said the Boldt Family continues to offer their heartfelt thanks for everyone’s prayers and support during this time, and they continue to ask for their privacy.

One correction to some of the recent press coverage: there will not be a special Mass or prayer service today at Saint Frances Cabrini Parish. We apologize for any confusion on this point.

Funeral Details:

Visitation for Andrew will be from 3 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, at Saint Frances Cabrini Church.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church, at 7:00pm. Friends and faithful from the Purdue University, Marquette University High School and West Bend communities are all welcome to attend.

Any Catholic clergy are invited to concelebrate and vest for the Mass. Please inform the parish by the afternoon of Tuesday the 28th if you are planning to do so.

A full obituary, including details of memorial fund donations per the family’s request, will be published before the weekend.

The Boldt family and the members of the Saint Frances Cabrini Parish Community are grateful to the sensitivity the local media has shown to our community. We respectfully request that there be no media present on the parish and school grounds during the visitation and funeral celebrations on Tuesday.

A former Springboro man, accused of killing a classmate at Purdue University on Tuesday, stood calmly in court today as Superior Court Magistrate Sean M. Persin entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

The suspect, Cody Cousins, 23, a 2008 graduate of Springboro High School, will continue to be held without bond in the Tippecanoe County Jail until his trial, which is tentatively set for April 22.

Cousins looked straight ahead with his hands in his lap and answered questioned posed to him during his 10-minute court appearance, while his family looked on from behind a glass partition. Cousins’ parents and sister declined to comment following the hearing.

New details

New details have emerged today that police said Cousins used both a gun and knife to kill his undergraduate teaching assistant colleague, Andrew F. Boldt, 21, of West Bend, Wis., inside a classroom. Authorities said Boldt died from gunshot and knife wounds, and that Cousins left both weapons at the scene before he walked outside to await for police to arrest him.

Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Patrick Harrington today released an affidavit of probable cause that provides the first details from witnesses and police about the shooting. Police and witnesses described events during and after the shooting but do not provide any insights that might have triggered the deadly encounter.

Police said Cousins targeted Boldt, but haven’t disclosed why.

The incident occurred during a lab class taught by professor David Meyer in Room 067 in the basement of the Electrical Engineering Building. Both students worked under Meyer for separate classes.

At about 12:03 p.m., Tuesday, Purdue campus police and West Lafayette police said they received several emergency calls about a shooting inside the building. When police arrived, they saw several people “fleeing” from the building.

Witnesses initially told police that a man fired several shots inside a classroom.

West Lafayette police Officer Kevin Coomey was one of the first responders on the scene and found Cousins outside the building “sitting on the ground with his hands behind his head. He had blood on his hands and clothes,” according to the affidavit. Coomey immediately took Cousins into custody.

Once police entered the building, they found Boldt’s body, and he had suffered knife and gunshot wounds. “Police located a handgun on the ground along with several spent shell castings and a knife,” the affidavit said. Police said earlier that Cousins fired four or five gunshots.

Harrington said police interviewed several individuals who were in the classroom when Boldt was killed, and they identified Cousins of “stabbing and shooting” Boldt. He said police also have obtained video that showed Cousins was inside the building.

Police also searched Cousin’s apartment on Stadium Avenue, but have not released details if they found anything.

If convicted of murder, Cousins faces between 45 and 65 years in prison. Harrington has not decided whether he will seek the death penalty.

‘Hearts are full of compassion’

Cousins’ defense attorney, Robert Gevers II, of Fort Wayne, released a statement following the hearing.

“I just met with my client Mr. Cousins, I just met with the family. I appreciate you providing them with the respect you provided them. They are obviously struggling as well. Our hearts and their hearts are full of compassion and concern for the Purdue family and for the family of Mr. Boldt. We will proceed in providing this young man, Mr. Cousins, the best defense we can.”

Both Boldt and Cousins were listed as seniors at Purdue. Police said Cousins’ last known addresses were in Centerville and Warsaw, Ind., where his parents, Wendy and Rusty Cousins, live. His mother, who works under her maiden Wendy F. Melancon, is a clinical psychologist and is a Wright State University graduate.

Cousins was an honor student, a member of the Dean’s list and graduated from Purdue last year, according to the school’s website.

Cousins was listed as a teaching assistant for a course, “Introduction to Digital System Design.” Boldt was a teaching assistant for “Microprocessor System Design and Interfacing.”

Purdue spokeswoman Liz Evans would not comment on Cousins’ status. A woman who answered the phone at Meyer’s home said the professor would not comment.

Cousins’ next court appearance is on Feb. 24 before Superior Court II Judge Thomas Busch.

The Dayton Daily News and WHIO-TV have two reporters in West Lafayette covering this story. We will continue to provide more information and updates throughout the day.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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