LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB/WAVE) — Nearly two years after a New Albany woman was shot and killed inside her home, the man charged in her death pleaded guilty and was sentenced Thursday during a hearing in Floyd County Circuit Court.
Joshua Thompson, 25, of New Albany, Indiana, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for shooting his ex-girlfriend, 25-year-old Kaitlynn Lee. Thompson had previously pleaded not guilty but changed his plea during Thursday's hearing.
According to the Probable Cause Affidavit, a witness told officers she and the victim, Lee, were making a TikTok video that night in the kitchen of an apartment when they heard someone banging on the window.
Police said Lee asked the person outside, "What are you doing here?" before a blast from the area of the window could be seen in the video. Smoke could then be seen hanging in the room before the video shuts off, according to court documents.
New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey said Lee and Thompson had a preexisting relationship. According to the probable cause affidavit, the witness told police Lee and Thompson were "always at odds with each other." The witness also told police that Lee previously told her if she was ever found dead, "Joshua killed her."
Lee's brother and children — including the son she shared with Thompson — were inside the home at the time.
Thompson later called 911 and told a dispatcher he "shot the mother of his child." Police also said Thompson admitted to pulling the trigger.
Thursday's hearing came after Lee's murder trial had been delayed multiple times. Floyd County Prosecutor Chris Lane said the case had been continued seven times before the trial was cancelled earlier this month.
Lane said the plea agreement ensured a murder conviction while avoiding the uncertainty of a jury trial.
"When you go to a jury trial, the community decides, and that's good, but there's risks," Lane said. "When you can achieve the highest charge, which in our state is murder, you take it."
During the hearing, multiple families member of Lee gave impact statements, including her cousin, aunt and grandmother.
"I will not let karma keep me from bouncing back on day, and you will have to answer for what you've done one day," said Pamela Greenwell, Lee's aunt.
In his brief statement, Thompson apologized to the family, saying his intention was was not to kill Lee, which members of her family pushed back on during their own statements.
"What I want to say I'm not going to, out of respect for this court, but you don't deserve to breathe," said Debra Roberts, Lee's grandmother.
As part of the plea agreement, Thompson also pleaded guilty to a Level 6 domestic battery charge involving Lee from April 2024. That 2½-year sentence will be served at the same time as his murder sentence.
Because of Indiana sentencing laws, prosecutors said Thompson is expected to spend decades behind bars.
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media and WAVE. All Rights Reserved.
