In the summer of 2019, the life of 21-year-old Alexandria 'Ally' Kostial, a University of Mississippi student, was tragically cut short. On July 20, a Lafayette County deputy on routine patrol discovered her body near Sardis Lake, a remote fishing camp area about 30 miles from the Ole Miss campus. An autopsy would later confirm that the St. Louis native, who was studying marketing, had died from multiple gunshot wounds in what was ruled a homicide.
The investigation into her death
quickly led authorities to a fellow University of Mississippi student, 22-year-old Brandon Theesfeld. Investigators found crucial evidence at Kostial's apartment. While her cell phone was missing, her Apple Watch had synced text messages that pointed them toward Theesfeld. Three days after Kostial's body was found, Theesfeld was arrested in Memphis, Tennessee. Evidence gathered by investigators included a letter found in his apartment that was described by prosecutors as a confession. In the letter, Theesfeld wrote about his struggles with 'terrible thoughts' fueled by cocaine and alcohol.
The motive for the murder appeared to stem from a complicated and tumultuous on-and-off relationship between Kostial and Theesfeld. Text messages revealed that Kostial had told Theesfeld she might be pregnant and had sent him a picture of an inconclusive home pregnancy test. Theesfeld had expressed that he was not ready to be a father and had suggested she get an abortion. It was later determined through an autopsy that Kostial was not pregnant at the time of her death.
Initially, Brandon Theesfeld was indicted on a capital murder charge and pleaded not guilty. However, in August 2021, he changed his plea to guilty of first-degree murder. This plea deal spared him a potential death sentence. Theesfeld was sentenced to life in prison. He will be eligible for conditional release when he turns 65. During his sentencing, he apologized to Kostial's family for his actions.
