Thompson, CT — A Thompson man charged with murder following a 2019 fatal stabbing has been committed to the state’s maximum-security psychiatric hospital for 45 years after being found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Kyle Carpenter, 35, of Thompson, was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect on May 1, 2026, following a court trial in Danielson Superior Court. Carpenter had been charged with murder and second-degree assault in connection with the November 13, 2019 fatal stabbing of a family member and assault of a second family member at a Fabyan Road residence in Thompson.
According to the original Connecticut State Police investigation documents, Quinebaug Valley Emergency Communications dispatchers received a 911 call at approximately 3:04 a.m. reporting that a man had been stabbed in the chest by Carpenter at 464 Fabyan Road. Responding troopers located the victim unresponsive inside the residence with two stab wounds to his upper body and a bloody knife next to him. He was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at approximately 3:32 a.m.
State Police identified the man at the time as a family member of Carpenter.
Troopers located Carpenter at the residence and detained him. Investigators reported observing what appeared to be blood on his clothing and described Carpenter as quiet, cooperative and displaying a flat affect. Carpenter initially told troopers that he had just woken up and did not know what had happened.
A 55-year-old female family member told investigators that Carpenter had arrived at the home earlier that evening and was allowed to sleep on the couch. She told investigators she was uncomfortable with Carpenter being there and believed he may have been experiencing some type of psychotic break.
Later that night, the woman told investigators she awoke and saw Carpenter standing next to the victim’s side of the bed. As she attempted to wake the victim, she said Carpenter began attacking him. The victim woke and stated that Carpenter was stabbing him. The woman attempted to intervene and suffered an apparent stab wound to her leg before Carpenter left the room. She was transported to the hospital for treatment.
During a subsequent interview with Eastern District Major Crime Squad detectives, Carpenter initially provided investigators with an account of his activities before the stabbing. Toward the end of the interview, however, police said Carpenter repeatedly stated that he could not remember what had happened. Carpenter later said he had been set up and denied committing the stabbing.
Carpenter was subsequently charged with murder and second-degree assault and was initially held on a $1 million bond.
Following Carpenter’s May finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, a three-judge panel reviewed evidence and the circumstances of the underlying incident during the commitment phase of the proceedings. On August 25, the panel determined Carpenter would remain under the supervision and care of Whiting Forensic Hospital for 45 years to ensure public safety and appropriate treatment, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.
Whiting Forensic Hospital, located in Middletown, provides inpatient psychiatric services to individuals involved in the criminal justice system and includes 91 maximum-security beds.