With profound sadness, loved ones are remembering Katie Kieffer, 35, of Darlington, Wisconsin, and Ben Randecker, 40, of rural Cuba City, Wisconsin, following a deadly shooting in the Town of Smelser on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
According to reporting on the incident, Grant County dispatchers received a 911 call shortly before 1:30 p.m. reporting that two people with gunshot wounds were outside a residence in the Town of Smelser, south of Cuba City. When law enforcement arrived, they found a man and a woman outside the residence near a vehicle. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office later identified the victims as Katie Kieffer and Ben Randecker. Their identities were released on September 22.
Katie, 35, was from Darlington, while Ben, 40, was from rural Cuba City. The two were known to each other and, according to the information provided by authorities, had shared a child.
Their deaths have left family members, friends, and loved ones facing an unimaginable loss. For those who knew them, the days ahead will be filled with memories of the lives they shared and the people they were.
As the investigation continues, the community is mourning the loss of two lives while loved ones remember Katie and Ben and the impact they had on those around them.
