Chancellor Offers Condolences to Kostial Family

Alexandria “Ally” Kostial was found dead in Harmontown Saturday. Photo from Facebook

UM Interim Chancellor Larry Sparks released a statement Tuesday in wake of the murder of Ole Miss student Alexandria “Ally” Kostial, 21.

Kostial’s body was found in Harmontown Saturday by a Lafayette County Sheriff’s deputy. She was 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.

Brandon Theesfeld, 22, was officially charged Tuesday morning with the murder of Kostial. He was a student in the School of Business Administration and has been suspended from the university, Sparks stated.

The message reads as follows:

I want to extend our deepest sympathies once again to Ally’s family, friends and all others who knew her or interacted with her on campus. Ally was an engaged member of our community with friends across our campus and a promising future. The university will support the Kostial family in every way we can during this traumatic time.

These events remind us of the importance of leaning on each other in the wake of an event that we cannot understand. If needed, the University Counseling Center is offering walk-in grief counseling between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to students, faculty and staff seeking additional support, or you can schedule an appointment by calling (662) 915-3784.

Ally’s death shocks the conscience and causes much pain and sorrow, but it does not define our campus community. We must draw strength from what brings us together as a community, even as we grieve this unspeakable loss.

Hottytoddy.com staff report