INDEPENDENCE, Ky. — A 55-year-old man is in custody after police said they found his girlfriend dead inside her apartment in Independence.
Police said officers conducted a welfare check Thursday around 4 p.m. on 32-year-old Amberly Harris who had not been at work for multiple days. When they arrived, Harris' boyfriend, Tommy Joe Powell, opened the door, and officers found her dead.
"This is a new one for us," Independence Police Capt. Brian Ferayorni said. "We haven't had a murder in a very long time."
Prosecutor Rob Sanders said Harris died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Powell admitted to killing her "several days" before the welfare check, according to the Kenton County Prosecutor's Office. Powell was hospitalized for what the Kenton County Prosecutor's Office called dehydration, and he will be booked into the Kenton County Detention Center after being released from the hospital.
He was charged with a single count of murder, which Sanders said carries a possible penalty of 20 to 50 years in prison.
The murder comes as a shock to the normally quiet neighborhood of Somerset Pond.
Leanna Rottenberger is the property manager's daughter and her apartment sits across from the crime scene. She said she never expected the man to be capable of committing such a crime.
"It was nuts," she said. "He was a very sweet guy. He helps around the apartment complex. I mean, he does everything for a lot of people — very nice guy."
Police said the exact timing and circumstances surrounding Harris' murder remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Adam Strine with the Independence Police Criminal Investigations Division at 859-363-2915.
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A previously version of this article said that the victim's name was Emily Harris, according to a release from the Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders. Sanders has since sent an updated release with the victim's correct name.
