TAMARAC, Fla. – A jury on Tuesday found 31-year-old Sakiyna Thompson guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 killing of 23-year-old Kayla Hodgson, her romantic rival. Thompson now faces a possible life sentence.
The emotional courtroom erupted as Hodgson’s family embraced and cried with relief following the verdict.
“We’re just so thankful that the jury saw the truth — Kayla did not deserve to die the way she did,” one family member said.
Prosecutors said Thompson flew from New York to South Florida days before the murder with the intent to kill Hodgson, who was dating Thompson’s ex-boyfriend.
According to the state’s case, Thompson showed up at Hodgson’s Tamarac apartment around 5 a.m. in July 2022, confronted her about the relationship, and then stabbed her to death.
“Being attacked and brutally murdered in your own home — that’s terrifying,” said Assistant State Prosecutor Tonya Johnson.
The defense, led by attorney Ros Meritxell, argued that Thompson acted in self-defense, claiming Hodgson attacked her first by hitting her over the head and cutting her stomach. Meritxell said Thompson, who was pregnant at the time, fought back out of fear for her life and her unborn child.
Prosecutors countered that Thompson had planned the attack, disguising herself with a hat and COVID-19 mask and using a fake Uber account to travel between her hotel and Hodgson’s apartment.
Despite the defense’s argument that there was no evidence Thompson brought a weapon, the jury concluded that the killing was premeditated.
Thompson’s sentencing date has not yet been set, but she faces life imprisonment for the murder of Kayla Hodgson.
