New York Woman on Trial After Traveling to Florida and Killing Ex-Boyfriend’s Lover, Claims She Acted in Self-Defense
TAMARAC, FLORIDA — A New York woman accused of traveling to Florida to murder her ex-boyfriend’s new lover took the stand this week, telling jurors she acted in self-defense during the fatal stabbing that left 23-year-old Kayla Hodgson dead inside her apartment.
31-year-old Sakiyna Thompson, who was pregnant at the time of the attack, admitted to killing Hodgson but told the court she did so only after being attacked first. The case, described by prosecutors as “a brutal and deliberate act,” has gripped both Florida and New York audiences with its shocking details.
The Confrontation That Turned Deadly
According to courtroom coverage from Law&Crime and NBC Miami, Thompson traveled from New York to Tamarac, Florida, on July 13, 2022, intending to have what she described as a “woman-to-woman talk” with her ex-boyfriend’s new partner. But instead of a conversation, the encounter allegedly turned violent inside Hodgson’s apartment.
Prosecutors say Hodgson was stabbed dozens of times. Thompson testified that she reacted in fear after the victim grabbed a piece of glass from a hookah and slashed her across the stomach.
When asked by the prosecutor, “You didn’t kill her because she was fighting you?” Thompson replied, “No. I killed her because she took the glass from the hookah and slashed me across the stomach.”
“I Was Walking in the Blood”
Thompson told jurors she blacked out after being cut and only remembered coming to while holding the knife and seeing Hodgson lying in a pool of blood.
“I was walking in the blood,” she said during testimony.
Investigators say after the killing, Thompson changed into the victim’s clothes, attempted to clean up the scene, and left the apartment without calling 911. She allegedly drove back to New York, where she was arrested weeks later on August 3, 2022, and later extradited to Florida to face first-degree murder charges.
The Victim and Community Reaction
Following her death, Hodgson’s family described her as “an amazing daughter, a very loved and adored big sister, niece, granddaughter, and cousin.” A GoFundMe campaign created in her memory expressed the family’s heartbreak and described her as someone “loved tremendously and a friend to all.”
Prosecutors argue that Thompson’s trip from New York shows premeditation, while the defense insists it was a moment of panic and self-defense. Both sides were expected to deliver closing arguments on Tuesday as the trial entered its final stage.
As this case moves toward a verdict, it raises questions about domestic violence, jealousy, and the limits of self-defense claims in fatal confrontations. For continued coverage of major court cases and local crime news from across the country, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.