By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com
A GoFundMe account has been set up for the family of Alexandria “Ally” Kostial, a University of Mississippi student who was found dead in Harmontown Saturday.
More than $5,770 had been raised as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.
“I can only imagine the trauma and sorrow that the Kostial family is enduring at this time,” wrote Lynn Holler, a family friend in St. Louis, Missouri where Kostial lived before coming to Ole Miss three years ago. “The loss of their beautiful daughter and sister and the manner of her passing must be unbearable. Instead of planning for college graduation they are now planning for a funeral.”
The funds from the campaign will be used toward funeral expenses.
According to reports, at about 10:23 a.m. Saturday, a Lafayette County deputy making a routine patrol in Harmontown found Kostial’s body near Sardis Lake.
Some news organizations have reported she had been shot several times; however, that has not been confirmed by the Sheriff’s Department.
On Tuesday, Brandon Theesfeld, 22, was officially charged with Kostial’s murder during his first appearance hearing at the Lafayette County Courthouse. His bond hearing was postponed to give defense attorneys and state prosecutors time to prepare for the future bond hearing.
A motive for the killing has not yet been released by investigators. According to friends, the two had known each other for several years.
Theesfeld was arrested at 3:45 p.m. Monday, according to the Lafayette County Detention Center jail docket.
Theesfeld was a student in the School of Business Administration and has been suspended from the university, according to Rod Guajardo with University Communications.
Kostial, a member of the Alpha Phi sorority, was working toward a bachelor’s degree in marketing in the School of Business Administration at the University of Mississippi, according to Guajardo.
To donate, visit “Help the Kostial family with funeral expenses.”
This is a developing story. Follow Hottytoddy.com for updates.
