TAMARAC, Fla. — A woman convicted of killing her romantic rival in 2022 has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. The sentence was handed down Monday to 31-year-old Sakiyna Thompson.
Thompson was found guilty of first-degree murder in October for the July 2022 killing of 23-year-old Kayla Hodgson, following a jury deliberation that lasted just one hour.
Family reaction
During Monday’s sentencing, ten of Hodgson’s family members and friends spoke in court.
“What she did was wicked and evil, and a person like her, it’s important they never see the light of day again,” said Hodgson’s cousin, Melanie John.
“I feel like I can finally start some type of healing,” added another cousin, Alisha Mitchell. “It will never be the same, we will forever miss her. The way she died, it will never really sit right with us. At least the person responsible is being held accountable.”
Details of the crime
Prosecutors said Thompson flew from New York to South Florida days before the murder with the intent to kill Hodgson, motivated by jealousy over Hodgson dating Thompson’s ex-boyfriend.
Authorities said Thompson confronted Hodgson at her Tamarac apartment at 5 a.m., argued over the shared romantic interest, and stabbed her to death.
During the trial, defense attorneys argued Thompson acted in self-defense, claiming Hodgson struck her over the head and cut her stomach. They said the killing was unfortunate and that Thompson’s actions were attempts to protect herself and her unborn child.
The state presented evidence that Thompson tried to conceal her identity by wearing a hat and COVID-19 mask and used a fake Uber account to travel to and from the apartment. Thompson claimed she blacked out and did not remember killing Hodgson.
Reacting to her testimony, a family member of the victim said, “How about the audacity of you to come up on this stand and waste taxpayer dollars and tell them a crock of garbage to everyone about your blackout reasoning.”
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