Kinne, Theesfeld Enter Not Guilty Pleas

By Alyssa Schnugg
News editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

This summer, the LOU community was shocked and devastated when two local women were murdered in unrelated incidents.

The two men charged in those crimes appeared in court today and entered not guilty pleas.

Matthew Kinne was arrested and charged with capital murder in May for the death of his alleged mistress, Dominique “Lucy” Clayton. Kinne, who was a married Oxford police officer at the time of the murder stood with his attorney, Tony Farese but said nothing.

Matthew Kinne is charged with capital murder in the death of Dominique “Lucy” Clayton.
Photo by Talbert Toole.

When asked by Lafayette County Circuit Court Judge John Gregory how he pleads to the charges, Farase answered “not guilty” on Kinne’s behalf.

Kinne has been held on no bond since his arrest on May 21. He is currently being held at the Union County Jail. 

Clayton, 32, was found dead on May 19 in her Brittany Woods home by her young son.

Friends and family said Kinne, who is married, was having an affair with Clayton.

OPD contacted the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations to take the lead on the homicide case.

Also appearing in court Monday was Brandon Theesfeld who was indicted by the August grand jury for capital murder and kidnapping in the death of Ole Miss student Alexandria “Ally” Kostial.

Brandon Theesfeld is charged with murdering Ally Kostial, an Ole Miss student, in July.
Photo by Talbert Toole.

Also represented by Farese, Theefeld entered his plea of not guilty through Farese in the same manner as Kinne.

During Theesfeld’s first appearance hearing in August, Howorth approved a request that a bond hearing for Theesfeld be postponed while he underwent a psychiatric evaluation. He remains in custody.

No mention of the evaluation of bond hearing was made during the brief arraignment hearing Monday.

Kostial’s body was found near Sardis Lake in Harmontown on July 21 near Sardis Lake.

Theesfeld, 21, of Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested and charged with her murder on July 23. 

After the hearing, Farese told reporters he had no comment to make on either case.

Both men are facing the death penalty if convicted.