( 4UMF NEWS ) SUNY College Student Beaten To Death:
A SUNY Brockport student was beaten to death in her dorm room early Saturday — and her boyfriend is charged with the brutal crime. The student, identified as 18-year-old Alexandra Kogut, was a freshman from New Hartford, N.Y., according to ABC affiliate WHAM in Rochester.
Her boyfriend, 21-year-old Clayton Whittemore, is being held without bail on second-degree murder charges, the Utica Observer Dispatch reported.
He allegedly admitted to killing her, but later pleaded not guilty, police said. A motive hasn’t been released. Authorities called the crime “brutal” after injuries were found on Kogut’s upper body, WHAM reported.
In a statement, her family said she was looking forward to starting her new life at school.
“Alexandra Kogut was a bright, beautiful young woman who was thrilled to be beginning her college education,” they said. “Her lovely and sweet demeanor was truly infectious and she will forever be missed. Her family is very grateful for the tremendous outpouring of love and support that they have received from so many friends and neighbors.”
Whittemore attends Utica College, about 2 1/2 hours from Brockport. Investigators don’t yet know if he spent the weekend with his girlfriend or if he drove to Brockport shortly before he allegedly killed her.
He was arrested at a rest stop at around 4:00 a.m. Saturday as he drove away from Brockport.
