A teenager was discovered dead and bound to a bloodstained mattress after enduring what authorities describe as months of torture and sexual abuse at the hands of her boyfriend, according to court documents.
Discovery and Initial Response
Officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina were dispatched to a residence on Yateswood Drive in east Charlotte on May 1 following reports of an unresponsive woman. Upon arrival, they found 19-year-old Isabella Alexandria Stroupe deceased at the scene. The Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner has since classified her death as a homicide, leading to the arrest of 24-year-old Thomaz Kenon Hamilton.
Detectives confirmed that Hamilton was in a romantic relationship with the victim and was residing with her at the time of the incident. First responders observed the teenager in a bedroom wearing minimal clothing, bound with a tow strap on a bloodstained mattress. Hamilton initially claimed she had suffered a heart attack during sexual intercourse.
However, the autopsy revealed extensive injuries, including multiple broken and fractured bones throughout her body, as well as stab wounds, contradicting his account.
Evidence and Charges
During the investigation, police seized a knife wrapped in cellophane that appeared to be bloodstained, a baseball bat, a sword, several mobile phones—some of which were broken—clothing with possible blood stains, and the bloodstained mattress. Prosecutors allege that the 19-year-old was subjected to torture over several months. Legal documents further state that she was physically incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse, prompting prosecutors to file rape charges in addition to murder charges against Hamilton. He was arrested on May 5 and is currently held on charges of murder and rape.
Community Mourning
A candlelight vigil was organized by Mothers of Murdered Offspring, a support group aiding families affected by violent crime. The event took place on Friday evening at Camp Greene Park in west Charlotte, where friends, family, and community members gathered to honor Isabella's memory. Mourners lit candles and shared stories about the young woman described as creative, with a passion for reading, art, and anime. She had aspirations of attending art school.
During the emotional gathering, Isabella's mother, Emily Stroupe, paid tribute to her daughter, expressing the family's devastation. "She was innocent. She was still a kid. She didn't deserve what happened to her," she said.
The investigation into Isabella's death remains ongoing, and police are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
