Amberly Harris, 32, was shot to death in the apartment she shared with her boyfriend. Her partner, Tommy Joe Powell, is under arrest after police found her dead body.
When Harris failed to show up for work one day, her employer suspected that something unusual was going on. Out of concern, they called the police and requested a welfare check.
Upon receiving Amberly Harris’ work call, police arrived at the apartment Thursday afternoon. The door was answered by Powell, who announced Amberly’s death to the authorities upon their arrival.
“The officers found her dead in a bedroom with an obvious gunshot wound to the head,” said Rob Sanders, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Kenton County.
It wasn’t the first time that Powell’s name was brought to the authorities. Two domestic violence arrests have been made against Powell, including one by Amberly earlier this year. It was initially charged as first-degree strangulation, punishable by five to ten years. However, Amberly did not cooperate with prosecutors as they investigated the incident. Because of this, his charge was reduced to fourth-degree domestic violence assault.
He was placed on probation and ordered to attend anger management and batterer intervention classes.
Amberly eventually ended up living with Powell once again. Dustin Maines, a neighbor who shared a wall with them, said he would hear them fighting until all hours of the night. Other neighbors validated the fact that the couple had a history of concerning arguments.
It is possible that Tommy Joe Powell will spend the rest of his life in prison. Powell was being treated for dehydration in the hospital after his arrest. Kenton County Jail is expected to receive him after he is released.