In May 2026, 24-year-old Thomaz Kenon Hamilton was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree forcible rape following the death of his girlfriend, 19-year-old Isabella Alexandria Stroupe. Police discovered Stroupe’s body on May 1 inside an apartment on Yateswood Drive in east Charlotte. While Hamilton initially called 911 claiming she had suffered a medical emergency during a consensual encounter, investigators quickly uncovered evidence of a much more violent and prolonged ordeal.
A harrowing police affidavit suggests that Stroupe was subjected to systemic torture for several months leading up to her death. When officers arrived, they found her bound with a tow strap and covered in extensive injuries, including multiple stab wounds and several broken bones in varying stages of healing. Investigators seized a variety of weapons from the scene, including a baseball bat, a sword, and a knife wrapped in cellophane that appeared to have blood on it.
The first-degree rape charge stems from the medical examiner’s assessment of Stroupe’s physical condition. Authorities concluded that the severity of her injuries and the state of her health due to the ongoing torture would have rendered her physically incapable of providing any form of consent. This led prosecutors to upgrade the charges against Hamilton beyond the initial murder allegation to include forcible rape.
Hamilton is currently being held without bond at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center. Following an initial court appearance on May 6, he is scheduled to return to court on May 27, 2026. The case remains under active investigation as authorities piece together the full timeline of the abuse Stroupe suffered in the months prior to her death.