A Charlotte man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and rape following the death of his 19-year-old girlfriend, whom investigators believe was subjected to prolonged torture before being found unresponsive in their east Charlotte apartment.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to a 911 call on May 1 after Thomaz Kenon Hamilton, 24, reported that Isabella Mary Alexandria Stroupe was unresponsive. Officers arriving at the scene found Stroupe deceased inside the apartment.
According to an affidavit cited by WBTV, Stroupe was discovered wearing minimal clothing and allegedly tied to a bed with a tow strap. Investigators documented multiple traumatic injuries on her body, including broken and fractured bones as well as stab wounds. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide.
Suspect’s Account Contradicted by Evidence
Hamilton, who authorities said was in a relationship with Stroupe and shared the apartment with her, allegedly told investigators that they had been engaged in sexual activity when she suffered a heart attack. Police said the physical evidence at the scene was inconsistent with that explanation.
During their investigation, officers recovered what appeared to be a bloodstained knife wrapped in cellophane, along with a sword, a baseball bat, multiple cell phones, clothing with possible blood stains, and a bloodstained mattress.
The investigation led detectives to a disturbing conclusion. According to the affidavit, investigators determined that Stroupe “was being tortured over a period of several months and that Stroupe would have been physically unable to provide consent for vaginal sexual intercourse.”
Arrest and Charges
Police arrested Hamilton on May 5, four days after responding to the initial call. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department charged him with first-degree murder and rape in connection with Stroupe’s death.
Following the tragedy, Stroupe’s family established a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses, describing how her death “has left a huge hole in our lives.”
In a statement shared as part of the fundraising effort, Stroupe’s sister offered a glimpse into who her sister was beyond the circumstances of her death. “I loved Isabella deeply. She was a total bookworm, always reading and sharing her favorite stories with me,” she said. “She loved fan fiction and My Little Pony, and her creativity brought so much joy to our family. Remembering her passion for books and the happiness she brought to those around her makes this loss even harder.”
The case remains under investigation by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-say-teen-was-tortured-for-months-before-death