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Hundreds gather to pay respects to New Hartford grad

By HILARY LANE

Story Created: Oct 3, 2012 at 5:06 PM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 23, 2012 at 7:02 PM EDT

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. (WKTV) - Hundreds of family members and friends have gathered to say goodbye to a New Hartford High School graduate who was murdered this past weekend in her SUNY Brockport dorm room.

Community members describe Alexandra Kogut as unselfish, kind, gentle and a born leader.

Friends say Alexandra, a 2012 graduate of New Hartford High School was very involved in the local community. She was a captain of the high school swim team and the recipient of the Citizenship Award for her caring nature and leadership skills. She enjoyed swimming, snowboarding, boating, ice skating and spending quality time with her family and friends.

One individual close to Alexandra says she lived her life according to a quote by Ida Scott Taylor which reads "Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone, and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering."

Alexandra's family issued a statement on Wednesday saying, "Alexandra Kogut was a bright, beautiful young woman who was thrilled to be beginning her college education. Her lovely and sweet demeanor was truly infectious and she will forever be missed."

Calling hours began at 4 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m.

A candlelight vigil will be held at 9 p.m. right near the New Hartford Fire Station on the Village Green.

The funeral service for Alexangra Kogut is planned for Noon on Thursday at Saint John the Evangelist Church in New Hartford.

Kogut's boyfriend, Clayton Whittemore, is charged with murder and is due in court in Monroe County on Thursday and was indicted Wednesday, according to his attorney.

In a police report, Whittemore admitted to intentionally killing Kogut. His attorney, John Leonard, offered no comment at this time.

Whittemore is also from New Hartford and is a sophomore at Utica College.

Details surrounding the death are still not known and while the autopsy results have not been released yet, investigators say Kogut suffered upper body trauma.

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