Ole Miss student's suspected killer to have psychological evaluation at state hospital

Alexandria "Ally" Kostial was shot and killed in July.

August 22, 2019, 11:14 AM

The Ole Miss student accused of killing his 21-year-old classmate will undergo a psychological evaluation at a state hospital.

Brandon Theesfeld's defense attorneys requested the evaluation at a bond hearing on Thursday, saying the request came after they "received some new information." They did not elaborate on that information.

The defense withdrew its request for bond on Thursday.

PHOTO: Brandon Theesfeld arrives for a bond hearing in Oxford, Miss., Aug. 22, 2019.
Brandon Theesfeld arrives for a bond hearing in Oxford, Miss., Aug. 22, 2019.
WATN
PHOTO: Brandon Theesfeld arrives for a bond hearing in Oxford, Miss., Aug. 22, 2019.
Brandon Theesfeld arrives for a bond hearing in Oxford, Miss., Aug. 22, 2019.
WATN

Theesfeld, 22, was arrested for murder last month in the death of his college classmate Alexandria "Ally" Kostial.

Kostial, a St. Louis native studying marketing at Ole Miss, was on campus for summer school when she was shot and killed in July. Her body was found outside Oxford, Mississippi.

PHOTO: An undated photo of Alexandria "Ally" Kostial posted to her Facebook page.
An undated photo of Alexandria "Ally" Kostial posted to her Facebook page.
Ally Kostial/Facebook

A motive has not been released, and Theesfeld's attorneys said he will enter a not guilty plea.

Theesfeld was arrested for murder two days after her body was found, authorities said. He was swiftly suspended from the university.

PHOTO: Brandon Theesfeld, 22, was arrested for murder in Lafayette County, Miss.
Brandon Theesfeld, 22, was arrested for murder in Lafayette County, Miss.
Lafayette County Sheriff's Dept.

Meanwhile, Kostial's friends are forced to begin their senior year without the bubbly 21-year-old.

"She was just a light in any situation, in any room," Hannah Chauvin told ABC News on Wednesday.

"I miss her smile a lot," added Morgan Hull. "Even if she was upset, she was always smiling to some degree, and it was very genuine. And it just made me want to smile, too."

PHOTO: Ally Kostial, right, who was found dead on July 20, 2019, is pictured with Casey Hendrickson in this undated photo.
Ally Kostial, right, who was found dead on July 20, 2019, is pictured with Casey Hendrickson in this undated photo.
Casey Hendrickson

Adventurous, spontaneous and a lover of sunsets, Kostial had new goals every day, whether it was running an extra mile or starting a business, her friends said.

Kostial was an active member of the Ole Miss community, her friends say. She was the university golf club president, a member of the business fraternity and a yoga and Pilates teacher on campus.

PHOTO: An undated photo of Alexandria - Ally - Kostial posted to her Facebook page.
An undated photo of Alexandria -Ally- Kostial posted to her Facebook page.
Ally Kostial/Facebook

A grand jury will convene next week where the case will be presented and charges will be determined, District Attorney Ben Creekmore said Thursday. The psychiatric evaluation will not impact these proceedings, Creekmore said.

Theesfeld will remain in custody as he awaits the psychiatric evaluation.

Family and friends have set up a GoFundMe to support a future foundation in Kostial's name.

ABC News' Kaylee Hartung contributed to this report.