A St. Paul, Minnesota man has entered a Norgaard plea in the 2023 killing of his girlfriend, acknowledging guilt while claiming he doesn’t remember the events that led to her death.
Kelvin Perry, 54, pleaded guilty earlier this month to second-degree intentional murder in connection with the death of 39-year-old Shaquita Thomas, according to court records. The Norgaard plea means Perry admits responsibility for the crime but asserts he was so impaired—by drugs, alcohol, or trauma—that he cannot recall the incident.
The tragedy unfolded in November 2023, when Thomas’ estranged husband requested a wellness check after not hearing from her for several days. When medics arrived at her St. Paul apartment, they discovered her lying face down with visible injuries to her back, shoulders, and forearms. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner determined that Thomas died from asphyxia. At the apartment, police observed bloodstains on the carpet and wall, as well as a broken wine bottle and shattered glass near her body.
According to court documents, Thomas’ husband told police that although they were separated, they were still legally married. He had spent the night with her on November 14 and dropped her off at her apartment the following morning. Since Perry had the key fob to access the building, Thomas had called him for help getting in. She asked her husband to leave before Perry arrived, reportedly because she didn’t want him to see the two of them together.
The husband said he feared for Thomas’ safety, having heard Perry yell at her on several occasions. Surveillance footage later showed Perry entering the building around 10 a.m. and leaving later that same day. Authorities noted that the apartment door was locked after Perry left and remained that way until emergency responders arrived.
Friends of Thomas told investigators she had mentioned during a phone call just days before her death that Perry had accused her of being intimate with her husband. One of Perry’s former girlfriends also spoke to police, saying that Perry’s brother told her he had heard Perry admit to “choking Thomas out.”
Another woman who has known Perry since childhood recounted a chilling phone call in which Perry allegedly said, “Something is going on. My girlfriend is gone—she is dead.”
Just minutes after that call, Perry reportedly attempted to take his own life by walking in front of a Green Line train in St. Paul.
Perry’s sentencing is scheduled for July 23. He faces up to 40 years in prison for the charge of second-degree intentional murder.
While this heartbreaking case occurred in Minnesota, its themes of domestic violence, emotional trauma, and community impact resonate across the country, including in places like Wyoming, where advocates continue to call for increased awareness, prevention efforts, and support services.
If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, help is available:
- National Domestic Violence Helpline: 1-800-799-SAFE
- Minnesota Day One Crisis Line: 1-866-223-1111
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, you are not alone:
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7 support)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Call 800-950-6264 or text “HelpLine” to 62640
Support resources are available in every state, including Wyoming, where local NAMI affiliates provide free programs and crisis counseling.
