UW-Madison student Jordan Gonnering will not have to pay rent on the apartment where he found his fiancee murdered earlier this month, Wisconsin Management Company announced Monday.

Company owner Russ Endres declined late last week to say whether he would allow Gonnering, 22, to break the lease on the apartment at 517 W. Doty St. where he found his fiancee, Brittany Zimmermann, 21, slain April 2. Gonnering found Zimmermann's body in the flat on the lower half of the small, two-story green house south of campus that he and Zimmermann shared.

On Monday, the company announced it had decided to void the lease, which had been signed by both Zimmermann and Gonnering. Under state law, renters must fulfill the terms of their lease, even after death. Both Gonnering and Zimmermann's parents could have been held liable for the remainder of the lease, which ran through August 2009.

"Wisconsin Management Company Inc. takes great pride in our service and commitment to our residents," Endres said in a statement.

"We felt it inappropriate, one week after the incident, to discuss the particulars of the lease situation until we had spoken with the families. We have since had the opportunity to speak with Jordan's parents. After discussing what the family wanted, we have decided to release all parties from any lease obligations."

University officials had tried unsuccessfully to intervene on Gonnering's behalf last week to excuse the remaining 16 months of the $790-a-month lease. Dean of Students Lori Berquam said Gonnering's parents were happy to hear Monday that the company would honor the family's wishes and void the lease.

"We're really grateful for the management company's willingness to absolve them of the lease," Berquam said, adding "We're grateful that this is one chapter we can close for the Gonnering and Zimmermann families."