Tommy Joe Powell Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder of Amberly Harris
COVINGTON- On September 18, 2023, Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe sentenced Tommy Joe Powell, 55, of Independence, to Life In Prison for the murder of Amberly Harris in December of 2022. Powell pleaded guilty to Murder in August, 2023, knowing prosecutors were asking for the maximum sentence, but threw himself at the mercy of the Court in the face of overwhelming evidence of his guilt. The Court showed him no mercy.
“Tommy Joe Powell is a stereotypical example of why domestic violence is deadly epidemic,” said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Taylor Roof who prosecuted the case with Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders. “His crimes escalated from assault, to strangulation, and then murder,” said Roof. Powell, through his attorney, asked the judge for leniency citing his service in the Navy and apologies to the victim’s family. Prosecutors showed the judge photos of the bloody crime scene, records of Powell’s previous domestic violence convictions, and also a life insurance police Powell had taken out on Amberly Harris shortly before her murder. Prosecutors also argued Powell was obviously not remorseful after his prior instances of domestic violence because his behavior only escalated. Roof said “Powell shot Amberly in the head with a shotgun at close range, killing her in a scene so gruesome it looked like something out of a horror movie.” Roof said the life sentence was the closest thing to justice for the victim’s family who drove in from several states away to attend the final sentencing. “Let this be a warning to perpetrators of domestic violence, everywhere,” said Roof, “If you kill your victim, you’ll go to prison forever, just like Tommy Joe Powell!”
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, help is available. Contact:
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence 1-800-799-SAFE
The ION Center for Violence Prevention (859) 491-3335
Posted on Tuesday, September 19th, 2023 @ 12:21AM
Categories: Blog, Commonwealth's Commentary, Media/Press Releases, Press Room
