The sister of slain North Vancouver student-athlete Matthew Hutchinson started a crowdfunding campaign to help her family cover the cost of memorial services and travel to New York.
In less than 24 hours, 931 people had already contributed approximately $44,000 to assist the family after Hutchinson, 24, was killed in an apparent double murder-suicide in upstate New York early Sunday.
On her GoFundMe.com page, “In Memory of Matthew Hutchinson,” Katelynn Hutchinson, whose original fundraising goal was $3,000, wrote: “A passing away abroad for a family can be costly and weighs on them heavily. I want my brother to have a beautiful memory and a celebration of life and for my parents to be able to travel to Geneseo College in New York State without fear of debt. I know it’s selfish of me to ask. I know it seems superficial but they don’t need any more burden. I loved my brother, he would never wanted anyone to be burdened. My parents are too modest to ask for help so I am.”
Hutchinson was one of three young adults found dead in a house in the college town of Geneseo, New York state, at around 6:30 a.m. Sunday. Police also discovered the bodies of Kelsey Annese, 21, a fellow student and member of the college’s women’s basketball team, and Colin Kingston, 24, a former student and former basketball player for the college.
Spokesman Jeffrey Szczesniak of the Geneseo police department said Kingston apparently stabbed Hutchinson and Annese to death with a large knife before turning the knife on himself.
According to Szczesniak, Kingston was apparently distraught over his breakup with Annese, his former girlfriend.
Hutchinson was in his senior year and studying geography and business. He was also a defenceman for the college’s hockey team and member of Geneseo’s volunteer fire department.
A long string of messages of condolences and generous offers to the Hutchinson family can be found at Katelynn’s GoFundMe page.
One reads: “I am very sorry for your loss. I am a city of Rochester fire fighter my daughter and I gave him a shirt from my department after a hockey game one night. She plays for a local hockey team her and her friend would never miss a college game. If your parents need any thing if they come to Geneseo please email me. Thank you and again the town is sorry for your loss.”
The college has planned a remembrance ceremony for the student-athletes at the Kuhl Gymnasium today (Wednesday, Jan. 20) and it can be viewed live (https://www.boxcast.com/show/#/remembrance-event) starting at 3 p.m. (PST).
According to the college’s website, the Geneseo Knights scheduled hockey game on Jan. 23 against Cortland will proceed as planned, at 7 p.m. in Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena.
“We are hoping to fill the stadium in a show of support for the team, and to honor the memory of Matt Hutchinson, number 23.”
-with files from Jane Seyd
