This blog post reviews a Vermont murder case involving Jakiy Tramaine Corey Keith, a Connecticut man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Kayla Wright of Derby, Vermont. It also covers Keith’s related federal plea on drug and firearms charges, plus what sentencing might look like when the cases go before the courts in June.
Details of the Vermont case and plea
Jakiy Tramaine Corey Keith, 26, admitted to killing Kayla Wright on February 2, 2024 inside a Route 100 home in Troy, Vermont. Prosecutors believe the shooting happened because of drug trafficking at the house and Keith’s fear that Wright would go to police about his illegal activity.
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After the fatal shooting, authorities found Wright’s remains days later in a large container on a sandbar in the Missisquoi River. This discovery led to Keith’s separate charge of unauthorized removal of a body.
In Orleans County Superior Court in Newport, Keith reached a plea agreement that reduced an original first-degree murder charge to second-degree murder. The plea also included the body-removal charge, so both offenses were wrapped up under the same deal.
Judge Rory Thibault asked the Vermont Department of Corrections for a background and circumstances report to help with sentencing. Lawyers expect sentencing to happen in June.
Second-degree murder carries a potential sentence of 20 years to life. First-degree murder carries 35 years to life. Where Keith will fall within that range depends on the background report and other factors that’ll come up at sentencing.
Keith’s case has a federal side too. He previously pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances and using a firearm in a drug-trafficking crime.
The federal sentence will run at the same time as any state term, since the prosecutions are coordinated. Under the federal plea, the maximum recommended federal term is not to exceed 20 years, with a federal sentencing hearing also set for June.
Prosecutors say the shooting happened because Wright might have exposed Keith’s drug-trafficking. Keith at first denied any involvement, telling police he was asleep at the house. He’s been in custody since his arrest, which happened about a week after the killing.
Federal case and sentencing timeline
The Vermont and federal cases are moving on parallel tracks, so sentencing in June might cover both at once or back-to-back. Vermont’s judges will weigh the body-removal charge and the motive tied to drug trafficking, while federal prosecutors will formalize the drug-conspiracy and firearm charges for a concurrent term.
Key takeaways and Connecticut connections
If you’ve got ties to Connecticut, this case might hit close to home. It shows how someone from the state can end up involved in violent crime far from their own neighborhood.
The incident happened up in Vermont. Still, the defendant is a Connecticut man, which really says something about how local networks stretch into nearby states.
The legal process—mixing both state and federal angles and set for June—shows just how tangled regional law enforcement and courts get when drug activity and violence spill over state lines.
- Hartford, CT
- New Haven, CT
- Stamford, CT
- Bridgeport, CT
- Waterbury, CT
- Norwalk, CT
- Danbury, CT
- New Britain, CT
People in West Hartford, Bloomfield, Glastonbury, and Norwich might notice a bigger trend here. Regional crime and teamwork between states keep popping up in these stories.
As June gets closer, folks all over Connecticut—from New London to Groton and Middletown—are likely paying attention to what’s coming next. Crime doesn’t care about borders, and these cases remind us that staying alert matters, especially with drug networks and violence on the rise.
Here is the source article for this story: Connecticut man reaches plea deal on reduced charge in Northeast Kingdom fatal shooting
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