Students returning to the SUNY Geneseo campus this weekend for the spring semester were faced with a tragedy Sunday morning. At around 9 a.m. many students received text messages, emails, and phone calls proclaiming, “There is an active police investigation underway near campus on Wadsworth Street. There is no threat to public safety but please avoid the area. No action necessary. Please avoid Wadsworth Street area in Geneseo.” After hours of confusion, it was released that there were three bodies, two male and one female, found in an off-campus residence at 18 Wadsworth Street. At that time, there was no identification of who the bodies were.
It was later released by a school faculty member, via email to the student body, that two of the bodies belonged to current Geneseo students and the third to a former student. Kelsey Annese, 21, and Matt Hutchinson, 24, were both current seniors. Annese was a member of the women’s basketball team and Hutchinson was a member of the ice hockey team. Colin Kingston, 24, a former student living in Geneseo, had played on the men’s basketball team at Geneseo. It was Kingston’s father who called 911 that morning after he received a call from his son from an unknown number.
Kingston told his father that he had just killed his ex-girlfriend and was then going to kill himself. It was reported that Kingston had killed Annese, Hutchinson, and himself with a large knife he had purchased. Kingston entered the home through an unlocked back door. The house is home to many of Annese’s teammates, who were sleeping at the time of the incident.
(Kelsey Annese, 21 and Matt Hutchinson, 24)
Hutchinson, outside of his major role on the ice hockey team, was a committed volunteer at the Geneseo Fire Department. After graduation, he hoped to become a forest firefighter back home in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was studying geography with a minor in business studies.
Kelsey Annese, from Webster, N.Y was majoring in education and Spanish. According to Erika Dannenfelser, there is nothing bad to be said about Kelsey.
"Kelsey was an absolutely incredible person. I had the pleasure of being her great friend and had the opportunity to live with her last year. I will never forget her sense of humor and her laugh. She was so unique and totally owned her self-proclaimed awkward personality. Kelsey was beautiful inside and out, even when she constantly rocked sweats to class. She was such a hard worker in everything she did; she would practice a 3-minute Spanish presentation in her room for an hour until it was perfect. Kelsey would have been the kind of incredible teacher that kids raved about and learned so much from. There is nothing bad to be said about Kelsey; she was nice, compassionate, funny, smart, beautiful, a great friend, and so much more. This beautiful soul was taken from us far too early, but I am truly blessed to have known Kelsey and will forever cherish the memories I have of her," said Erika Dannenfelser.
President Denise Battles sent an email on Sunday evening about the events from earlier that morning. In the email, she states, “The Geneseo we know is a strong community, and together we will pull together in dealing with the aftermath of this tragedy.”
Classes still resumed for the spring semester, as scheduled, on Tuesday, Jan. 19. SUNY Geneseo has made sure that professional counseling will be available to students. The school has also scheduled a series of events in remembrance of Hutchinson and Annese. The events are as follows:
Mon., Jan. 18 to Fri., Jan. 22.
Tables are set up in the MacVittie College Union Lobby for students, staff, and faculty to leave notes of support and encouragement for the families and teams of Annese and Hutchinson.
Wed., January 20.
There will be a moment of silence at 2:30 p.m. The College carillon bell will toll at 2:30 p.m. for Hutchinson #23, and at 3:20 p.m. for Annese #32.
Wed., Jan. 20 to Wed., Jan. 27.
Collection boxes for cards and letters will be available in Milne Library and MacVittie College Union.
Wed., Jan. 20.
A remembrance event will take place in Kuhl Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m., hosted by Intercollegiate Athletics. Live webcast at https://www.boxcast.com/show/#/remembrance-event. Live audio streaming by WGSU at http://bit.ly/wgsu-live
Thurs., Jan. 21.
Show your support for the community and those affected by changing your social media profile to the #OneKnight logo.
Fri., Jan. 22.
Wear blue and white in remembrance of Annese and Hutchinson and in support of the women’s basketball and men’s ice hockey teams.
Fri., Jan. 22.
Calling hours for Annese at Falvo Funeral Home (1295 Fairport Nine Mile Point Road, Rt. 250). Two buses, sponsored by Student Association, will be departing the MacVittie College Union Circle at 4 p.m. and returning to campus between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Sign up at the Student Association Ticket Office starting Wednesday morning from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sat., January 23.
Funeral services for Annese (Webster United Church of Christ, 570 Klem Road, Webster). Two buses, sponsored by Student Association, will be departing the MacVittie College Union Circle at 9:30 a.m. and returning between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sign up at the Student Association Ticket Office starting Wednesday morning from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 23.
"Pack the Ira” event. Men’s ice hockey vs. Cortland at Geneseo (Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena) at 7:00 p.m. Come and show your support for the team as they rally together to honor their teammate.
Tues., Jan. 26.
Blue ribbons with schedules of the remaining season games available in MacVittie College Union Lobby.
Fri., Jan. 29.
“Pack the Ira” event. Men’s ice hockey vs. Morrisville at Geneseo (Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena) at 7 p.m. Come and support the team.
The support from the Geneseo community in light of this tragedy was outstanding at the remembrance ceremony for Kelsey and Matt. Aside from the student body, many town residents, the local youth hockey league, and the Geneseo volunteer fire department came to mourn the deaths of these student athletes. President Battles stated in her opening speech, “We are not alone. We are Geneseo. We are one.” It is very clear that instead of falling apart, the community came together to get through this awful time. Matt and Kelsey will forever be remembered at SUNY Geneseo, may they both rest in peace.
