207 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Melanie Spalla

Death by Force
Case Description
Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Melanie Spalla, a 21-year-old female student from Altoona, Pennsylvania, tragically lost her life on September 17, 1996, during a sniper attack on the campus of Penn State University in State College, PA. The incident occurred early in the morning when Jillian Robbins, a 19-year-old woman from nearby Troftrees, PA, went on a shooting spree. Robbins, who was not a student at Penn State, fired five shots with a high-powered 7-mm Mauser hunting rifle from a concealed position near the Hetzel Union ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (6)
See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Penn State Shooting Is Fatal to Student; Woman Is Arressted (Published 1996)
  • Twenty years after fatal HUB shooting: How police have changed ...
    •     ...View 4 additional sources
    Victim Details

    Melanie Spalla

    Female

    White / Caucasian

    State-college

    PA

    1996-09-17

    19

    Melanie

    Spalla

    11/22/2025

    Forum Posts (2)
    I came across this case recently and couldn't help but think about the incredible bravery of Brandon... ...Read More
    11/10/2024
    Has anyone else read about how quickly Brandon Malovrh reacted during the shooting? It's incredible ... ...Read More
    09/09/2023
    Other Cases from State-college, Pennsylvania

    Nuria Kudlach

    Death: Aug 30, 2015
    Nuria Kudlach, a 51-year-old woman of Spanish and Portuguese descent, tragically died on August 30, , ...Read More