i hope i could do somethin different, but it's not goin to change. it's at me it eats at me. i can't sleep most of the time >> as for the estate bruce harkey had so fervently hope to inherent, that seem to be gone with the texas wind in the wake of bonnie's death, the orchards faded, and ther were no longer any harkeys living in the harkey home. >> and that's all for this edition of dateline. i'm craig melvin thanks for watching. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> i'm craig melvin. >> i'm natalie morales >> this is "dateline

>> it was like oh, wow. he did it. he took off and we didn' know where he was. >> he took off, and we did not know where he was. >> call it a mother' intuition. >> she had a sign. i don't know how, something wa wrong. >> her daughter away at colleg was not answering her phone. >> she was scared. she did not know where ale was. >> then, terrible news, student had been murdered, i young woman, but apparently it was not alex >> the girl on the floor had very dark, almost black colore hair she had much lighter hair. >> so, who was it, and where was alex >> at that point, it was one that, and perhaps anothe missing. >> the color could be roaming campus of students >> we were really scared >> in a serious tweet. >> what did you think? >> i don't exactly know. >> a terrifying phone call

>> my son just called and told me he killed somebody. >> and a terrible truth. >> i did not know how, and i did not know who and i did not know anything. i just knew she was gone ♪ ♪ ♪ >> hello, and welcome to dateline a college freshman found brutally beaten in her dor room, a crime scene so blood police could not identify th victim but identifying the killer was not nearly as hard he admitted what he did, turning himself to polic within hours it was why he said he did it that would become th foundation for his defense here is andrea canning wit after midnight ♪ ♪ ♪ >> every year, as summer fades into fall, and lazy days of th

beach come to an end, students flood back to college. it is the same scene year afte year at campus after campus. and every year, there is tha new bunch, the freshman. >> i was nervous from class, a the first day, because i was a freshman >> all those worries, all thos questions -- >> do i would have to go t these classes, and what is thi teacher like, and all that kin of stuff >> they are not quite adults they are not quite teens but now, suddenly, they are on their own. >> leaving home for the firs time could be scary. >> scary for the kids, for their parents, too >> every mom has that, my baby is going to college -- yes. >> most of the time, gates sai through the experience they make new friends, the knew people, and move on but there are others who wer not so lucky they are the victims of troubling trend that has caugh the nations attention, datin violence >> it could happen to anyone's

daughter - >> anyone. it could happen to anyone. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> it was late september 2012, the college at brockport, state school in western ne york, was well into the school year 18 year old alexandra kogan wa having a time of her life. >> as soon as i met her, i kne we were the perfect match fo each other >> alex and samantha turner me within days of arriving on campus, besties from the beginning. >> you really clicked with alex? >> i did >> why do you like her so much right away >> i liked her because i could act so funny in front of her and i could act myself if i had a problem, she wa always there for me. >> by late september, alex and samantha were inseparable, swapping clothes and confidences. but on friday, september 28th, they were going off in different directions some of that was heading hom

to see her family. alex was staying on campus counting the hours until her longtime boyfriend arrived for a weekend visit. that afternoon, alex went down the hall to cement this dorm room to say goodbye. >> it was around 3:00 maybe, and she was like, can i pick u some clothes in your closet? and i was like, sure so, she took a shirt and a pai of my shoes. and she says, clint will b here in half our >> 21-year-old clayton was alex's boyfriend and it was coming to spend the weekend. but first, alex had a swampy meeting. she'd been swimming since school were page with me was the captain. >> you're the captain for this team but you call alex more the heart of this one team yes, definitely, and hig school, she definitely wasn' the fastest, which he was on of the most important people i our team because she had the most heart she would be behind you at every single one of your races

cheering you on, wishing you luck >> now, paige and alex wer teammates again. >> she must of love knowin that she had you to lean on. >> i feel like there was definitely that sense of security -- please don't kill me, sh wrote. no worries, he answered, soon, the two got together with busy night ahead of them midway through the evening samantha texted alex >> and i told her i was like i can't wait to see you tomorrow love you, goodnight you know and then she said the same ♪ ♪ ♪ but later in the early hours o saturday morning, samantha was awakened by a call alex's mother was on the line. what's in the world was up >> she was scared. she didn' know where alex was. she had a sign. i don't know how she knew something was wrong.

>> her mother thought somethin was wrong and called you freaking out >> yes. i was like, i'm home. don't know >> a fearful mother on the phone in the middle of the night, searching for her daughter what's had happened had set he off? why was she so distraught? samantha is a good friend of alex this parents. she is paige's mom >> they had gone off for a weekend vacation and bee texting that evening becky was sending pictures of the hote room and you say, oh, great. and alex didn't respond. and she tried over and ove again, and she didn't respond. and it's not how their relationship worked. >> is that unusual, though that when she responded in college, it's a weekend, her boyfriend is coming for th weekend. >> i imagine the first coupl of times, maybe she wa concerned. but when it was several, tha is what raised flax. >> a little bit of mother' intuition, you think >> i imagine it was.

>> alex's mom worked at th phone frantically, join anyone who might know where her daughter was finally, at 2:42 am, she calle to campus police to ask them t go to her daughter's storm room, to check on her. officer michael johnson -- >> you took that call? >> i did >> and you headed over to th dorm >> yeah. >> and then what happened? >> i went there, knocked on th door i knocked twice. and i think there was a welfar check, i was like let me see i this door is unlocked. >> it was. and officer michael johnso will never forget what was inside that room >> it just seemed that something really bad had happened that night. >> what has happened in room 108. police were about to confront frightening and confusin scene. >> coming up, you never come t work thinking you're gonna see

something like that. >> a young victim, but who i it >> they're telling everybody keep the door shut don't go out we don't really know what wa going on >> when after midnight continues. astepro allergy. now available without a prescription. astepro is the first and only 24-hour steroid-free spray. while flonase takes hours, astepro starts working in 30 minutes. so you can [ spray, spray ] astepro and go. trelegy for copd. ♪birds flyin' high, you know how i feel.♪ ♪breeze driftin' on by...♪ ♪...you know how i feel.♪ you don't have to take... [coughing] ...copd sitting down. ♪it's a new dawn,...♪ ♪...it's a new day,♪ it's time to make a stand. ♪and i'm feelin' good.♪ start a new day with trelegy. no once-daily copd... ...medicine has the power to treat copd... ...in as many ways as trelegy. with three medicines in one inhaler,... ...trelegy makes breathing easier for a full 24 hours, improves lung function, and helps prevent future flare-ups.

trelegy won't replace a rescue inhaler... ...for sudden breathing problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. do not take trelegy more than prescribed. trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating,... ...vision changes, or eye pain occur. take a stand, and start a new day with trelegy. ask your doctor about once-daily trelegy... ...and save at trelegy.com. meet gold bond healing. a powerhouse lotion that moisturizes, heals, and smooths dry skin. with 7 moisturizers and 3 vitamins, you can pay more but you can't get more. gold bond. champion your skin. i have moderate to severe crohn's disease. now, there's skyrizi.e but you can't get more. ♪ things are looking up ♪ ♪ i've got symptom relief ♪ ♪ control of my crohn's means everything to me. ♪ ♪ ♪ control is everything to me. ♪ feel significant symptom relief with skyrizi, including less abdominal pain

and fewer bowel movements at 4 weeks. skyrizi is the first and only il-23 inhibitor for crohn's that can deliver both clinical remission and endoscopic improvement. the majority of people on skyrizi achieved long lasting remission at 1 year. serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine or plan to. liver problems may occur in crohn's disease. ask your gastroenterologist how you can take control of your crohn's with skyrizi. ♪ ♪ control is everything to me. ♪ learn how abbvie could help you save. wow. that's good. almond breeze?

you like the almond breeze i got you... that's sooo interesting. what's happening, dad? with delicious taste and 50% more calcium. blue diamond almond breeze. don't just milk it. almond milk it. >> officer michael johnson, cop at the college at rock por was on a routine welfare check at a dorm room early one saturday in september 2012 whe he got the shock of his life >> we don't see that level o violence that often. >> room 108 was wrecked. there was blood everywhere, on the bed, on the door, on a pillo on the floor. and in the cente of the room is a young woman o the floor facedown. her bloody

hair falling over her face >> it seemed very unnatural th way she felt. even the blood footprints that were around he indicated something violen happened. the adrenalin kick in and you need that in that moment and it was just time to go to work. if she was alive, had to do all i could for her. >> officer johnson knew he needed help fast >> i heard this guy yelling, and i thought it was a drunk college get. >> haley lived across the hall from alex's room the commotion woke her up. >> and i noticed a man was lik yelling for help and stuff so, i woke up. and i started looking throug my peephole, and it was police officer yelling >> lieutenant daniel steel worked with officer johnson on the campus force >> here we do with me for th ad - >> what's ad >> it's a defibrillator. >> so i arrived, running to th location - >> what did you think when you

saw what you saw -- >> what's ad >> it's a defibrillator. >> so i arrived, running to th location - >> what did you think when you saw what you saw >> i couldn't believe it i guess you never come to work thinking you're gonna se something like that. >> haley was now glued to he people she found evidence everywhere. >> everybody was saying, kee your door shut don't go to the hall and we didn't really know it was going on >> the news was spreading. haley was fielding a storm o texts from worried students. >> everyone was just s confused it was like, i don't know, i think somebody's hurt. but i don't know what' happened >> by now, the cops realized the young woman on the floor was dead haley soon learned that two. >> what's happened was that th ambulance showed up. and the police officers and th paramedics, they only needed one to go in and the paramedic went in, and came out, pronounced her jan

doe, and it was just like oh wow! i knew that that message, they couldn't identify who it was and they left. and i woke my roommate up. and i said, you know somebody's died. and she didn't believe me at first. and i told her, you know, like they left the stretcher ha nobody on it >> the students on their phone try to stay calm, but it wasn' easy after all, a college residence is supposed to be safe, but now, there might be a killer on the loose. >> we were really afraid and i mean, the police officer were like, are you okay? you are safe here. but we were really scared. >> haley went over and over th events of that night in he mind and she remembered something about 1:15 am, as she wa trying to go to sleep, a

unusual sound that wasn' related. >> it was like a thud, thud. and then it was like, mayb like a pause, and then it wa like more, and then kind o another break. and some of them were louder than others. >> now, as the activity in the hallway intensified, haley hur a line straight out of a cop show >> the police officer said thi is not a crime scene don't touch anything >> at that time, i knew that w had to do our jobs, and way to preserve everything, you know, for the safety of the rest o the campus >> the officers had 1 millio questions.

number one, who was the girl lying with her face to the floor? alex kogut, the girl they aske to check on, had blond hair. there were pictures of her i the room the girl on the floor was brunette was she alex's roommate? it was hard to know. her face was bloody, unrecognizable so, then, you must be wondering, where's alex >> right yeah >> the cops learned that ale had entered the dorm with he boyfriend after midnight and then, they made a startlin discovery. when they looked closer at the photos in the room, they saw a young man they recognized. in fact, they issued him a ticket that very night >> so, we knew he wanted t look for that night. >> it was clayton whittemore alex's boyfriend they needed to find him, and fast he might lead them to her. >> if we have someone that thi violent act here in this specific room, you know, wha is he capable of doing when he leaves here? >> coming up, a missin boyfriend, and anxious bes friend >> i rushed here >> four in the morning >> four the morning. >> and a mystifying murder >> there were so many things that didn't make sense in th room, that it was very hard to gauge what happened fully. >> when after midnight continues.

>> the campus cops investigating the murder i mcclain hall weren't sure wh the victim was but the recognized a young man i photos in the dorm room. they' seen that same young man whe they were patrolling the campu earlier that night >> i observed a couple comin down the street here. we could see he had an open container i

his hands. -- i requested an i and explained we have a loca ordinance that says you can' have an open container >> did he seem angry was he agitated? >> no, he was actually ver cooperative. i gave him the ticket, and the started to walk away on th sidewalk >> a young man who got the ticket was clayton whittemore, returning home from a part with his girlfriend alex kogut >> and when they left, the seem fine? >> they seemed normal to me. >> it was even doing small tal with a female that he was with and he was able to make he laugh a little bit so if anything was bothering her, she didn't let us know. >> so just a normal couple out on a friday night? and it wasn't quite the last o him? >> they both were walking away i observe him drop the bee can. he just dropped it right on th ground and i made a comment to hi that that could be another 100 dollar fine. and he complied, he went bac and picked up. that's when i saw him cross th

street here. and at the same time, th female stayed on this side o the street and then, they both continue to walk on separate sides of the street >> alex and clayton have bee dating for a year and a half b then they were both from the town o new hartford in central ne york they got together when alex wa in high school clayton had already graduated. now, they were trying to make go at a long distanc relationship >> they really want to make it work, and i think it was working. i think she really did lov him. >> what kind of things that yo take shape to you about clay describing him >> it was just kind of jus little things here and there like oh i can't wait to see him, i miss him you could see it in her eyes that she really did want to be with him >> clayton, number 21, had bee a standout hockey player i high school. after he graduate in the spring of 2010, he spen

this isn't playing for a college team in florida, livin with his family there. >> he was like - >> andre fernandez, one of clayton's teammates, lived wit the same host family >> here's a picture of clayton -- >> has hardworking he was a really nice guy he was funny. we always had good time. >> did you guys ever get into little bit of trouble? >> we never really got i trouble. we were busy >> what about girls? did you hang out with girls at the time >> nope. >> partying? >> no. >> drinking? >> once. >> this sounds like that tames bunch of hockey players i've ever heard of. >> it was hardly surprisin that alex was drawn to another athlete, and clayton was a catch. paige knew that. she'd gone through high school with clayton, and saw him in senior year math class >> she felt like she deserved lot more, and that she was very, very lucky >> really? >> so she considered herself lucky that he had chosen her

>> absolutely. >> watching them together, did it seem that he really cared about her? that he really liked her >> absolutely happy to be in that relationship. >> yeah? >> you see them laughing together you see them getting along s well >> her family liked him to they'd given her a care package, and her mom contributed $2 towards gas for the trip once alex's swim team meetin ended that day, the couple met up, passing some alone time in the dorm room, then went t dinner alex and samantha were texting of course. >> you know, i asked what sh is doing and she's like, where out to dinner right now we're gonna go out to friend's house and then making it back to the dorm >> on the way back, clayton go that ticket. and the cops saw the to walk away separately. then, at 12:13 am, alex posted a tweet. should have known, it read should have known.

>> what do you think of that >> they probably have somethin to do with clayton, but i don' know exactly >> minutes later alex wiped he car to enter the door with clayton. it was 12:17 on saturday morning. so, now, investigators wer desperate to find out wher clayton whittemore was, an whether alex was with him. >> luckily, we had all thi information from the ticke that we issued to him. >> but clayton had been a mode of cooperation that. what could he tell them, i anything, about what had happened in the dorm room that night? >> i couldn't put together wha happened because it was so violent. there was so many things tha didn't make sense in the room, that it was very hard to gauge what happened. you know, case closed. >> what were the scenarios tha you were thinking of >> maybe there was a altercation between roommates. maybe, possibly, alex an clayton were on the run, and this was the roommate that was on the ground. maybe alex was abducted by clayton. maybe clayton had hurt the roommate >> lots of things runnin through your mind? >> yes >> lots of things on other

peoples minds too. at her parents house, samantha turner, alex's best buddy, was phoning all her friends. when she got to a roommate, college official got on th line, and told her that ther was a situation. >> and i broke down. and i grabbed my sister and was like, we need to go back right now. and i rushed here. >> four in the morning >> four in the morning i got here i saw police cars. >> you didn't know at this point what had happened still? >> i didn't know exactly which was. >> hundreds of miles away, a frantic mother, waited desperate for answers, but whe those answers came, they would be unbearable, and they were coming soon from the kille himself. >> coming up - two frantic phone calls from a mother >> he said she was breathing then she stopped >> and a son >> what is going on their bug?

>> i just -- i did something. >> when dateline continues it's good to go. before advil. advil dual action fights pain two ways. advil targets pain at the source, acetaminophen blocks pain signals. advil dual action. ♪ it's the most wonderful time of the year ♪ acetaminophen blocks pit's spring! non-drowsy claritin-d knocks out your worst allergy symptoms including nasal congestion, without knocking you out. feel the clarity and make today the most wonderful time of the year. claritin-d. scout is protected by simparica trio, and he's in it to win it. simparica trio is the first and only chew with triple protection. oh, fleas and ticks ♪♪ intestinal worms... wow heartworm disease, no problem with simarica trio. this drug class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including seizures. use with caution in dogs with a history of these disorders. for winning protection.

go with simparica trio. your best defense against erosion and cavities is strong enamel- nothing beats it. new pronamel active shield actively shields the enamel to defend against erosion and cavities. i think that this product is a gamechanger for my patients- it really works. >> i'm richard louis with ou

top story, officials i kentucky say two people ar dead and four others injured after shots were fired into crowd of people. in the west louisville par last night police are still searching for a suspect, this comes just day after a mass shooting at a ban and downtown louisville wher five people were also killed i like bold one is asking th judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the parents and siste of rust cinematographer elaine hutchins the actor say the were a strange from hutchins before her death and they have noia vble cause of action. now, back to dateline. >> welcome back to dateline, i'm craig melville

there was a murder on a colleg campus a beating so brutal, that th victim couldn't be identified. with a killer on the loose police were desperate fo answers. and they were about to get them, thanks to an unexpected phon call once again, here is andrea canning with after midnight. >> early saturday morning, steven peglo, a vetera homicide investigator with the monroe county sheriff's office has been called to the campus. the cops there had seen murder on their hand, a body they couldn't identify, and a kille on the loose >> everyone thought they kne what was going on, but nobod really did until you got there and started to put the piece together you didn't know. >> as he drove to the campus investigator peglo reviewed th facts as he knew them. one young woman was dead another was missing. >> it was reported there was a young lady still alive, an needed help. right then, that was m priority in my mind when i wen to the office. >> do you think that clayton had taken alex and had her t her? she was still alive? or that someone else may b

involved in this >> at that point, i wa thinking that she was just wit clayton, and he had hurt her >> so you're thinking, we have to find her immediately? >> yes >> just five counties away, drama was unfolding that would break open the case. about 3 am, an operator at the county emergency center got call from a profoundly trouble dad. >> yes, my name is scott whittemore and i am calling [inaudible] >> it was a stunning statement even for the 9-1-1 dispatche in the early hours of saturday morning. but the dad didn't know much >> how did this happen where is he right now? >> i don't know. >> the father reported that hi son was in a bad way >> he's talking about killin himself too. i don't know what's going on with him >> the divorces that admitte

that he was out of the loo about family matters now, he was doing his best t stave off is tragedy >> you don't see any weapons [inaudible >> he asked you for your pistol? >> yes he doesn't have it >> and did he say what h wanted to do with it >> kill himself. >> the dispatcher asked scot call his son back to find ou more minutes later, the father wa back on the line >> he has a girlfriend i brockport. his mom thinks he is probabl on his way home to brockport >> sandy. we're trying to find your son. you think he was out visiting his girlfriend in brockport? >> what? well, he -- he's in canada right now >> well, he's not in canada. >> he's not? >> no. at least his cell phone isn't in canada. if you were just talking to hi on his cell phone, he's not in

canada >> okay. >> just take a couple of dee breaths and we're going to try to find him to get him help. >> the dispatcher got the name alex kogut from the stressed out mom. slightly wrong, but it was enough seconds later, he was on the phone to the campus cops i brockport. and now, finally, the pieces o the story began to fit together >> we had a call from a father about an hour ago, and sai that his son called him, and said that he killed somebody weeping this phone the son's name is clayto whittemore >> okay. >> apparently, he went out wit his girlfriend at college. >> yeah. that's who we are looking for. are you looking for them >> i had him earlier on an ope container, just after midnight >> is the girl okay, we're concerned about what is goin on >> if we don't know where this alex kogut, we can't locat her. but her roommate is doa. >> that's the theory tha campus cops were acting on tha

the roommate was dead and that alex was with clayto somewhere. but then, new information from clayton's mom. clayton had just called hi sister, and told her a frightening story about alex >> he said something like sh was breathing and then she stopped. >> he said the girlfrien stopped breathing? >> yes >> clayton's mother was beside herself. -- did you go to the college ou there? >> yes, they're looking fo him. >> and then, once more tha morning, the call line lit u at the 9-1-1 center in oneid county this time, it was a call everyone was waiting for clayton whittemore was on th line >> what's going on there buddy >> i did something >> it was 3:44 am, the horro of what had happened in room 108 would soon be revealed >> coming up - >> who had clayton whittemor

killed >> i didn't know how i didn't know who. i didn't know anything i just knew she was gone >> when dateline continues dupixent is an add-on treatment for specific types of moderate-to-severe asthma that's not for sudden breathing problems. dupixent can cause allergic reactions that can be severe. get help right away if you have rash, chest pain, worsening shortness of breath, tingling or numbness in your limbs. tell your doctor about new or worsening joint aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines, including steroids, without talking to your doctor. ask your specialist about dupixent. (vo) red lobster presents fun dining: taste buds need not be faithful to one shrimp dish. including steroids, without talking to your doctor. thrill them with shrimp three ways. try the new cajun shrimp trio, richly seasoned with cajun flavor. it's a bold new way for shrimp three ways. welcome to fun dining. type 2 diabetes? discover the ozempic® tri-zone. in my ozempic® tri-zone, i lowered my a1c, cv risk,

and lost some weight. in studies, the majority of people reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease. and you may lose weight. adults lost up to 14 pounds. ozempic® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't share needles or pens, or reuse needles. don't take ozempic® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. stop ozempic® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. gallbladder problems may occur. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. taking ozempic® with a sulfonylurea or insulin may increase low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. ask your health care provider about the ozempic® tri-zone. you may pay as little as $25. nexgard is the flea and tick protection that's #1 with vets. your vet trusts it for her patients... ...and her own dog. plus, its delicious beef flavor is #1 with dogs.

use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. ask your vet about nexgard. -okay, and one more. -i think we got it. -yeah, let's focus on the rv. -rv? okay, everybody, look at the rv and smile. this is what you want for your family portrait? good point. we bundled the boat with our home and auto first. -hey, team, get on in here. -team? oh. fun. now everyone say "24/7 financial protection with progressive"! 24/7 financial protection with progressive! okay. let's get some singles of me on the bike. honey. yeah. [ leaf blower whirring ] your best defense against erosion and cavities is strong enamel- nothing beats it. new pronamel active shield actively shields the enamel to defend against erosion and cavities. i think that this product is a gamechanger for my patients- it really works. >> clayton whittemore was at a

rest stop when he called 9-1-1 with a stunning admission. >> i'm turning myself in. i di

something that i can't tak back and i just got to tur myself in. >> it was almost 4 am, a frantic hunt that had pulled i multiple police agencies emergency dispatchers, college officials, and two sets of anguished parents, was almos over >> there were two officers, tw new york state troopers wh were patrolling the freewa that night >> sandra is the distric attorney at monroe county in western york >> they were called to respond to the service area. not knowing what to expect, at that point, it was one dea girl on a college campus and perhaps, another missing >> and clayton was there waiting? >> he was. he walked over and said, i'm turning myself in. they noticed his blood sneakers and noticed blood o his hands. >> within seconds, 21 year old clayton whittemore was cuffe and in custody now for his car, what could it

tell them? >> they wanted to check th trunk. they didn't know there was a body in the trunk, because a that point, they still hadn' determined, you know, who it was actually on the dorm roo floor of 108 >> that was about to change. the cops back in brockport, wh initially thought the victim might be alex kogut's roommate had learned the roommate was staying elsewhere that night but where? they started an urgent search. until they spoke to her, the couldn't be certain of the victims identity, because of the hair color, investigator steven peglo >> the girl lying on the floor had very dark, hair. and when you saw the photo that alex had put up in he dorm room, of her and clayton, she had much lighter hair. the roommate had darker hair >> investigators knocked o students doors, questionin them then, a nugget buried in a conversation they learned that alex had recently died her hair brown they had what they needed to i d. their victim. now, they want to hear fro

just one more person, alex's roommate when she did call in, finally, they learned she'd been stayin in another dorm room >> we had her come to us, so w could speak with her >> positive that the girl on the dorm room floor with ale kogut. bubbly, happy, lovely alex only 18 years old. best buddy samantha turner rushed back to college early that morning, devastated >> i broke down. and i knew at that point in my life, my life was changed. >> we just knew what's happene without even anyone telling you? >> i didn't know how i didn't know who. i didn't know anything i just know she was gone, and could never see her again. >> sandra whitney and he daughter page our family friends of the koguts.

paige was a student at brockport too. her omit woke her up aroun seven at that morning. >> and she said we had to go we're all meeting together something happened page called me, and she said something happened to alex >> what? >> she said it's a terribl accident, and she said she okay? and she said, no i said is she in the hospital? and she said, no, mom. she's not. and i said, has she died and she said, yes. so, i was shocked and all could think was, what coul have happened to alex in her dorm room? >> the new york state police we're asking clay widow more that same exact question, that very morning >> - >> no, we're good. >> clayton put the piece together for the police abou what happened that night and it began with the fact tha his relationship with alex

wasn't so good after all the couple had dinner, and then, the party. clayton said he and alex drank moderately, but at the party he got annoyed with her, and said he felt disrespected. >> she'd like raise her voic at me and said anybody els said anything to her, she'd be all giggly >> as they walked back from th party, clayton got that open container ticket >> so i was already aggravated and it aggravated me more. >> clayton, remember, walk t the other side of the street t cool off and then alex posted that fina cryptic tweet, should have known. >> we'll never really know wha that meant but - >> what do you think it meant? >> maybe that they shouldn't b together maybe we should perk up. >> at 12:17 am, alex went to her dorms. she and clayton entered he room clayton said they were fightin about cheating old stuff, he called it. >> what was she saying >> she's like i saw a pictur on your phone, way back, you know november of last year o

something. >> yes >> and you know, it'll be picture of my sister >> then he told the cops she got physical >> she started pushing me an pushing me, and pushing me she kept doing it. >> was she saying anything whe she was pushing you. >> the same stuff, you know. >> but the investigator pointe out clayton was a strong guy alex was tiny. >> you didn't feel threatene by alex tonight. it was more than that, right >> i don't even know what it was. i don't know >> don't know how to explain it? >> i don't know if it was my temper or just her hitting m in general or pushing me and stuff. >> but you're not heard? >> no. >> right she didn't hurt you at all right? >> no. >> he told the cops he asked her to stop, but he said, sh wouldn't and when he offered t leave he said she told her t stay and then this

>> all of a sudden, i just snapped. d you hit her back? >> to her up against the wall. >> the attack that followed wa savage, unthinkable. in a tiny dorm room surrounded by sleeping students, clayto whittemore beat his girlfriend to death investigator steven peglo ha seen plenty of homicide scenes but never one like this. >> there were a few of us in the room people were like, we have bloo on this. we have blood on this. it gives you an idea of th rage that have gone on in th room >> peglo who has studied tha interview video, says one thin he can forget. clayton told police that nea the end, he relies alex' breathing had become labored he realized the girl that he loved was dying. >> - that's why did the other stuff that i did, because -- i'm not gonna watch them suffe

there. >> yep okay >> that's why did it >> so you see her suffering an you think she's gonna die? is that right? >> yes, i didn't even think of getting help >> didn't get help, didn't cal an ambulance it didn't occur to him instead, he hid her until sh died to put her out of her misery he said. >> it must have seemed impossible, how could she be murdered >> exactly disbelief, shock it's not real. it's not real. that doesn't happen. you don't go away to college and suffer that. you just don't >> clayton whittemore wa charged with second degree murder he pleaded not guilty, because clayton whittemore had a explanation. and his attorneys would reveal it at trial. >> coming up - could anything explain suc violence >> it happened my entire life. >> yeah. so you said you saw it all

>> i saw it all. >> the verdict, when datelin continues. ♪ ♪ it was time for a nunormal with nucala. nucala is a once-monthly add-on treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma that can mean less oral steroids. not for sudden breathing problems. allergic reactions can occur. get help right away for swelling of face, mouth, tongue, or trouble breathing. infections that can cause shingles have occurred. don't stop steroids unless told by your doctor. tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. may cause headache, injection site reactions, back pain, and fatigue. ask your asthma specialist about a nunormal with nucala.

♪ it's the most wonderful time of the year ♪ ask your asthma specialist it's spring! non-drowsy claritin knocks out symptoms from over 200 allergens without knocking you out. feel the clarity and make today the most wonderful time of the year. live claritin clear. ♪ icy hot pro starts working instantly. with two max-strength pain relievers. ♪ so you can rise from pain like a pro. icy hot pro. nicorette knows quitting smoking is freaking hard. you get advice like... just stop. go for a run. go for ten runs. run a marathon. instead, start small with nicorette, which will lead to something big. [gum stretches] dang it. [tires pop] dang it. that's some bad luck brian. and i think i'm late on my car insurance. good thing the general gives you a break when you need it. yeah, with flexible payment options to keep you covered.

so today is your lucky... oh! [crash] ...day. meteor! [screams] dangit. for a great low rate, go with the general. >> it wasn't until the sprin

of 2014, almost two years afte alex kogut died, that clayto whittemore went on trial although he told the cops he had beaten his girlfriend to death, he entered a plea of no guilty to second degree murder prosecutors had a powerful cas against him, and they knew it.

the gruesome images in room 108, a mountain of incriminatin evidence, even his words >> i didn't even think o getting help >> he was a ticking time bomb, prosecutors argued a killer years in the making >> how does this young man g from star athlete, popular college student, who some woul call a monster >> you know, that night, his anger was just building an building and perhaps, fueled by alcohol >> prosecutors tried to show that clayton whittemore ha already established a patter of violence. they called ex-girlfrien melinda to testify about one scary episode. >> when we were fighting in parking lot he had choked me he held on for a few seconds i thought that he might not stop but eventually he did. i walked out of his car to > enough on friday, on a coo down and he did and i kind o

blew it over >> that one was scary. >> hunter fernandez was called to the stand hunter had played hockey on th college florida team wit clayton. and he had a scary experienc too. it happened after clayton drin a half dozen beers >> he walked into the kitche and got the knife. and it looked like he wa possessed, he took a ste towards us, our host mom she was like clayton put the knife down >> defense attorneys didn' dispute that clayton whittemor killed alex kogut, didn't even try. and they didn't dispute that his anger was years in the making but they argued this wasn't case of murder, their client was guilty of the lesser charg of manslaughter. why? they said he was under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance when he killed ale kogut, because clayton whittemore was a victi himself. >> i'm turning myself in for

what i did >> okay. >> the man who called you is the man who should turn himsel in >> that's clayton talking to the 9-1-1 dispatcher, hour after the murder he's talking about his dad telling the dispatcher his father had abused him and hi family for years >> happened my entire life >> yes so you said you saw a lot of it? >> i saw it all. watch my brother get beat with a baseball bat by my own father i watch my own father break my sister's nose, throw my ow mouth are down to the ground and beat her i watched him try to shove a remote control or down the throat of all of his children. >> the cops in the interview room asked him how he felt about his dad now. >> you and your dad have a relationship now >> not really. my family, not light people i' really close to.

growing up with my dad one man i despised >> your dad? >> in the minutes before he wa arrested, clayton wrote bizarre apology to alex and th family, sorry to the family an you, he texted, nothing will ever fix or undo what i did. i became my father in court, clayton sister too the stand and supported he brother's story. their father, scott whittemore did not respond to datelines calls. there is no records of complaints against him, but defense expert, a psychiatrist testified, scott admitted that as a former marine he may have been rough because of that abuse, the expert concluded that clayto was suffering that extreme emotional disturbance an snapped in the dorm room the prosecution begged t differ >> it's sad and tragic, yo know, we never discounted or deny and his past but that doesn't excuse what he did

>> three weeks after the trial began, a case went to the jury the verdict was swift. guilty of second degree murder >> i just felt thi overwhelming sense of relief that the truth came out an that there was finally a verdict it was the right verdict. >> alex's mom did not attend the trial, but followed it closely and tweeted. >> becky after the verdict tweeted, justice from beautiful baby did you talk to her about th verdict? what did she say >> it was a privat conversation between two moms, there were tears of course. doesn't bring back alex. it doesn't >> clayton whittemore wa sentenced to 25 years to life. among those who knew the story

of alex's life and death there was a new awareness about th vulnerability and challenges o young glove. especially because, prosecutor said, there is evidence to sho cleat and had a history of threatening alex he left angry voice mails on her phone. assistant district attorne meredith >> there were almost 30 versus males that she saved from him, they were all of tha aggressive controlling nature, is what we argued to the court to seek admissibility of him a trial. >> the voice mails were no admitted in court, but prosecutors read an expert for dateline editing out the expletives >> i'll kill you next time i see you. you are a slice and it's going don't call me i'm sick of you. i left a lot of words out. >> when you add in those expletives, it is really har to hear? >> it was. these were voicemails that wer scary. >> those close to alex and her

family said they never kne about the voicemails, neve knew there was a problem they said there were no re flags about clayton whittemore >> that's why it is out of the blue, never saw that coming. >> nothing, totally, totally caught me off guard. >> perhaps for parents there i a lesson to be learned, as questions, know what i happening, even if there are n warning signs. >> even if, you know, they might not want to talk about it, ask those questions. >> after alex died, sandra wit me and her family started th purple pinky charitabl foundation to campaign against dating violence. purple symbolizes the figh against domestic violence, i was also alex kogut's favorite color. sandra came up with the idea a she comforted alex his forme teammates. >> i said so pick your pinky's purple and this is for alex. you have more strength in your

little finger than the worst thing that can come at you >> two years later, there were still purple ribbons in alex kogut's hometown, friend attending a college memorial t honor students will have die at a college that has itself had to heal, a college that ha hope in the center to rais awareness about dating violence and there are still those, lik page with me, who will never let the memory of a graceful joyous young spirit fade away. >> for the rest of my life whenever i see purple i will think of her whenever i hear a story of any type of domestic violence will think of her. and i will not stop telling he story. >> that is all for this editio of dateline. i'm craig melvin, thank you fo watching >> i'm craig melvin. >> and this is dateline.