Martha Woltman dies in fatal St. Croix County shooting

Martha Woltman dies in fatal St. Croix County shooting

Fatal St. Croix County shooting death of Martha Woltman – Obituary

Martha M. Woltman, 58, of Stillwater, Minnesota, was fatally shot by 65-year-old Paul P. Hellem in what authorities are calling a murder-suicide earlier this week in Hersey, Wisconsin. Hellem, who later took his own life, had been on probation for a 2023 domestic violence incident involving Woltman.

The tragic event occurred on a property located in the 700 block of 292nd Avenue in Springfield Township, where deputies discovered both bodies around 9 p.m. Monday after Woltman’s daughter requested a welfare check. She had been unable to contact her mother, prompting concern. The last known communication from Woltman was a text message sent around 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The rural property belonged to one of Woltman’s relatives and did not have any permanent buildings. Woltman kept goats there, and it appeared Hellem had been residing in a camper on the premises. According to St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knudson, both Woltman and Hellem had suffered single gunshot wounds. There were no signs of a struggle. Authorities ruled Woltman’s death a homicide and Hellem’s a suicide.

Woltman had been employed part-time as a nurse with the Minnesota Department of Corrections. Sheriff Knudson described her as a compassionate individual who devoted her life to helping others, saying, “She seemed like a gentle and caring person, and this man chose to end her life. His terrible actions brought heartbreak and trauma to her family.”

In a past case of abuse, Hellem was convicted in August 2023 of misdemeanor assault following a December 2022 incident at Woltman’s home in Stillwater. A felony charge of domestic assault by strangulation was dropped in a plea agreement. During that incident, Woltman fled her home and asked a mail carrier to call 911. According to court records, Hellem had physically assaulted her following an argument about his drinking.

He was arrested later the same day, not only for the assault but also for DUI. Woltman later obtained a protective order against Hellem, citing multiple instances of violent behavior, including being choked and pinned down. Though the court issued a no-contact order, it was later lifted in June 2024, with no explanation provided in the records.

Hellem was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 80 days stayed, and given credit for 10 days already served. He was also placed on probation for a year.

This marks the third deadly domestic violence incident in St. Croix County in 2025. In previous cases, one man was accused of fatally stabbing his wife, while another was charged in the killing of his spouse whose body was discovered in neighboring Polk County.

“These are not random crimes,” said Sheriff Knudson. “They were committed by people who were supposed to love and protect the victims. This has been an especially heartbreaking year.”