A Kentucky man has pled guilty in federal court to carjacking a motorist in Simpsonville before hitting and killing a Louisville teenager while driving the stolen vehicle.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky announced that 31-year-old Michael Dewitt, of Louisville, pled guilty on Tuesday to carjacking resulting in death.
According to court records, Dewitt committed the carjacking at gunpoint on March 1, 2021; stealing a 2011 Ford F350 from its owner in Simpsonville.
“During the immediate flight from the carjacking, and while still in possession of the stolen truck, Dewitt collided with a vehicle on Dixie Highway in Louisville,” causing the death of 17-year-old Butler High School student Madelynn Troutt, according to prosecutors.
Troutt was planning to attend Bellarmine University as a nursing student.
Dewitt was found to have amphetamine and benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium, Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, and Klonopin) in his system at the time of the fatal crash. Two stolen firearms were found in the stolen truck.
Formal sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2025. The maximum penalty is life in prison, however, if the plea agreement in the case is accepted by the court Dewitt will be sentenced to 29 years, four months in prison, according to prosecutors. There is no parole in the federal system.
Dewitt is still facing state charges, including murder, DUI, third-degree assault of an officer and leaving the scene of an accident among other counts.
Dewitt was out of jail on bail when the deadly incident occurred.
(Photo l-r: Michael Dewitt, Madelynn Troutt)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
