Staff Report

WINONA LAKE – The 20-year-old Grace College student who was found deceased in her dorm room on Friday, Oct. 30, was being treated as a presumptive positive for COVID-19.

Bethany Nesbitt, Grand Ledge, Mich., was found deceased in her dorm at Westminster Hall. An obituary posted by Nesbitt’s father, as well as a social media post by one of Nesbitt’s brothers, states Nesbitt had been in quarantine after testing positive for the virus.

The student’s father and brother confirmed their understanding that she had suffered from symptoms consistent with the virus for ten days.

Autopsy results for Bethany are still pending.

Her death, if counted among others in Kosciusko County, would represent the youngest person to die from COVID. Previously, the youngest person to die from COVID in the county was age 61.

The college declined to release further details, city privacy reasons.

But in a statement sent by Grace College President Dr. William Katip to the college community, the college announced plans for an on-campus memorial service for Bethany at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. The event will be live-streamed.

“Grace College has detailed protocol and procedures in place to care for students, to prevent the spread of COVID on campus, and to treat anyone on campus with COVID symptoms,” read the statement.

“These procedures were followed in the care of Bethany. I have been in regular contact with the family and the loss they are experiencing is unfathomable. We continue to hear stories of Bethany’s joyful spirit, love for the Lord and others, and positive impact on campus.”