The family of Alexandria "Ally" Kostial is getting a bit of closure two years after her senseless murder.
On August 27, Brandon Theesfeld pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, changing his original not guilty plea. Theesfeld, described as an "on-and-off" person in Kostial's life, admitted to shooting her multiple times. In exchange for his confession, defense attorney Tony Farese and the state of Mississippi agreed on reducing the charge from capital murder to murder in the first degree.
Theesfeld will spend life in prison as a result of his crime. In the meantime, Kostial's family has learned more about what may have driven Theesfeld to kill the 21-year-old University of Mississippi student.
At the hearing, assistant district attorney Mickey Mallette explained that Kostial met Theesfeld at the University of Mississippi. They were friends whose relationship would become intimate "from time to time," per The Oxford Eagle.
In April 2019, Kostial contacted Theesfeld and revealed she was concerned she might be pregnant. On the 14th, she sent him a photo of an inconclusive pregnancy test and asked him to meet up with her to talk things through. The ADA revealed Theesfeld was looking into various ways to obtain Kostial an abortion during this time, based on his search history.
Over three months, Kostial kept reaching out to Theesfeld, getting more frantic with time. Time and time again, he would agree to meet but either back out at the last minute or stand her up. On July 12, Theesfeld told her he no longer wanted to speak to her and that she should just get an abortion.
The defense attorney also explained that while Kostial may have thought she was pregnant at the time, no pregnancy was found when her body was examined after the murder.
"There was an allegation that [Ally] was pregnant. The evidence showed she was not pregnant," Tony Farese said.
"The autopsy showed that she was not pregnant and there was no evidence that she had been pregnant. But, that was part of the underlying theme of their relationship."
Two days later, Theesfeld traveled to Texas to visit his father and obtained a Glock model 22 .40 caliber pistol. He returned to the Oxford area with the gun and eventually shot Kostial as she returned home from an evening out. The next morning, his search history indicated he was checking the news to see if her body had been recovered.
Theesfeld still had the pistol in his possession when he was arrested on July 22. When investigators searched his apartment, they found a letter he'd written to his family.
"I'm not a good person. It is not your fault," the letter read.
"Something in me just doesn't work. I've always had terrible thoughts. I've always had these feelings."
"I just kind of felt off. I think this is the end for me," he continued.
"I'm either going to prison or going to die. I know I'm going to get caught."
Both of Kostial's parents provided statements, which were read at the hearing.
"I wish I could have kept her away from this evil, callous, scheming, ungrateful, sinister and violent and corrupt monster," Kostial's mother's statement read.
"He had every opportunity to do good in the world, but he chose to do evil. Brandon, you belong in jail each day for the rest of your life for the heinous act you committed to such a sweet soul in Ally. Every time your cell door slams shut may it be a reminder for what you did and the life you took from us."
Theesfeld, for his part, offered an apology to the Kostial family. "I am sincerely sorry for the pain I've caused while taking Ally from you," he said.
"My actions have forever changed your lives and my family's lives. I wish I could take it all back but I can't. There is no excuse for my actions and I have asked God for forgiveness. I hope one day that you will find it in your heart to forgive me."
