By Palm Beach and Broward Mugshots LLC
TAMARAC, Fla. — A New York woman accused of traveling to Broward County to confront her former boyfriend’s new girlfriend will spend the rest of her life in prison.
Sakiyna Thompson, 31, was sentenced on December 1, 2025, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2022 murder of 23-year-old Kayla Hodgson. A Broward County jury convicted Thompson of first-degree murder in October after deliberating for approximately one hour.
Ten of Hodgson’s relatives and friends addressed the court before the sentence was imposed, describing the lasting effect her death has had on their family.
An early-morning confrontation
Prosecutors said Thompson flew from New York to South Florida after learning that Hodgson was dating Thompson’s former boyfriend.
Thompson arrived uninvited at Hodgson’s Tamarac apartment at approximately 5 a.m. on July 13, 2022. Prosecutors argued that the trip and early-morning confrontation were part of a planned attack motivated by jealousy.
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Thompson wore a wide-brimmed hat, COVID-19 mask and gloves to conceal her appearance. Prosecutors said she also used a false Uber account to travel to the apartment and return to her hotel.
Hodgson was later discovered dead inside her home.
Investigators connected Thompson to the case using surveillance footage, flight records, cellphone information and evidence recovered during the investigation. Broward detectives obtained a warrant on July 25, 2022.
Thompson was arrested in Queens on August 3, 2022, and extradited to Broward County to face a first-degree murder charge.
Thompson claims self-defense
Thompson testified in her own defense, admitting that she went to Hodgson’s apartment for what she described as a “woman-to-woman” conversation about their involvement with the same man.
She claimed Hodgson punched her and cut her stomach with a piece of broken hookah glass. Thompson, who said she was approximately two months pregnant, testified that she acted to protect herself and her unborn child.
Thompson also claimed she blacked out during the confrontation and regained awareness after Hodgson was already dead.
During her testimony, however, Thompson acknowledged changing out of her blood-covered clothing and putting on clothing belonging to Hodgson. She also admitted attempting to clean portions of the scene and discarding evidence instead of contacting police.
Her attorneys argued that the klling was a tragic act of self-defense rather than a planned murder. Prosecutors countered that Thompson’s interstate travel, disguise, false Uber account and conduct after Hodgson’s death demonstrated planning and an attempt to escape responsibility.
The jury rejected Thompson’s self-defense claim and found her guilty of first-degree murder.
Life without parole
Hodgson’s family expressed relief after the verdict and said the conviction provided some measure of justice following more than three years of court proceedings.
The first-degree murder conviction carried a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
Thompson will now remain in state prison for the rest of her life—a final outcome in a case prosecutors described as a deadly confrontation driven by jealousy and a romantic dispute.
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