SUNY Geneseo Students Murdered with Knife in Bedroom

GENESEO – Geneseo Police say that the tragic deaths of two SUNY Geneseo students at 18 Wadsworth Street on Sunday were homicides committed by a former SUNY Geneseo student.

Geneseo Police Officer Jeffrey Szczesniak said at an afternoon press conference on Monday that students Kelsey Annese, 21, of Webster, NY, and Matthew Hutchinson, 24, of Vancouver, British Columbia, were killed by Colin Kingston, 24, at Annese’s off-campus housing on Wadsworth Street between 5:30 a.m. and 6:20 a.m. Sunday morning.

“At some point, Colin Kingston went to the residence and discovered Mr. Hutchinson in the company of Ms. Annese,” said Szczesniak. “There was an altercation, and during the altercation Mr. Hutchinson and Ms. Annese did sustain some fatal stab wounds.”

Kingston’s father called 911 after he received a call from Colin from the scene saying that he had harmed his ex-girlfriend and may harm himself. By the time police arrived on scene, all three subjects were deceased.

Police believe that Kingston had recently bought the knife from a local retailer. He has no criminal history. He was formerly a SUNY Geneseo student and basketball player but was not enrolled for the spring semester.

Szczesniak said that Kingston knew Annese from being in a long-term relationship with her prior to the incident.

“We have information that suggests that Kingston and Annese had been in a long relationship and had recently broken up,” said Szczesniak. “We believe Kingston was distraught over the breakup, which led to the events of yesterday.”

Szczesniak said that no information that they have obtained concluded that Annese and Hutchinson were in a romantic relationship.

The house had several locked doors but a back door to the house was unlocked at the time that police arrived on scene. Several housemates, many of whom are on the SUNY Geneseo Basketball team along with Annese, were home at the time of the incident.

“Four people home at the time of the incident,” said Szczesniak. “Two stairwells go to the front three rooms and back three rooms in the house. Three people were home in the rear of the house and one was home in front. There was some distance between, including a hallway and a closet. All indications from talking to all of those witnesses are that no one heard anything that suggested there was an altercation. It was something that probably happened very quickly.”

Livingston County District Attorney Greg McCaffrey said that no charges are pending as a result of this incident.

The investigation is still ongoing. Lab results will determine a final cause of death for the three people and determine whether any drugs or alcohol were involved.

Annese was a SUNY Geneseo basketball player. Hutchinson was a SUNY Geneseo hockey player and outstanding volunteer firefighter and EMT with Geneseo Fire and Ambulance. Kingston was a former SUNY Geneseo student and basketball player.

SUNY Geneseo plans to have a remembrance ceremony at 7 p.m. in Kuhl Gym on campus on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Counseling services were immediately made available to Annese’s and Hutchinson’s teammates and continue to be available to faculty and staff. Students and staff can see the availability schedule of counselors here.

The flag flies at half staff at SUNY Geneseo in honor of the three lives lost.

A Canadian flag flies above the Geneseo Fire hall in memory of Hutchinson.

Also in attendance at the press conference were Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, New York State Police Major Craig Hanesworth, SUNY Geneseo University Police Chief Thomas Kilcullen, Livingston County District Attorney Greg McCaffrey, Livingston County Coroner Joseph Calourie, SUNY Geneseo President Denise Battles, and SUNY Geneseo Vice President Robert Bonfiglio.