Kendrell Thomas sentenced to life in prison

A Shreveport man convicted of terrorizing an elderly Shreveport woman, beating and robbing her and locking her bound in a closet in her Southern Hills home, must serve the rest of his life in prison, a Caddo District Court Judge has ruled. 

District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. sentenced Kendrell Quinte Thomas, 24, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, as a habitual offender for home invasion and cruelty to persons with infirmities. In July 2025, Thomas forced his way into the home of his victim, a 91-year-old widow. She had been found by concerned relatives early July 2, 2025, bound by wire and rope in a closet.

Thomas's victim said her assailant forced his way into the house, knocking her down and dragging her by her feet from room to room looking for money and jewelry. She said he beat her about her head, then tied her up and put her in the closet. Detectives found supporting images on nearby neighbors' cameras and from the bank, where one of the victim’s stolen checks had been cashed. Thomas was identified as the person who cashed the check, and he was arrested at his house with $1,800 in cash and belongings of the victim, clothing seen in the neighbor’s surveillance video, the backpack used in the crime and a ski mask.

Thomas also must serve 30 years on the cruelty conviction, to run concurrently with the life sentence. Both terms are to be served without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence.

Thomas was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ross Owen. He was represented by the Caddo Parish Indigent Defenders office.

The case was docket No. 409895.