Family mourns loss of Louisville 15-year-old girl stabbed to death

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A family is grieving after a 15-year-old girl was stabbed to death Saturday evening in the Iroquois neighborhood.

Isabelle Verbaere was killed Saturday night, according to her family.

"She's a child," said Felicity Kron, her older sister.

LMPD responded to a stabbing in the 5300 block of Buckner Avenue, near Southern Parkway, around 7 p.m. Police said a teenager died at the scene.

Kron's Saturday night ended as a real-life nightmare.

BUCKNER AVE FATAL STABBING — Isabelle Verbaere

"She was murdered, it's confusing, confusing as to why," Kron said.

Kron said she was at work with her mother and brother when they were called and told that her younger sister was killed.

Louisville Metro Police said 18-year-old Kaden Seviour stabbed a teenage girl.

"You don't think somebody could do it just because they want to," Kron said.

Kron said her sister and Seviour knew each other from school. They were in the same special education classes.

According to police, Verbaere and Seviour were in a relationship. But Kron said that's not true.

"They were not in a relationship," Kron said. "She just wanted to stay friends with him and he could not take no for an answer."

The teen's older sister never imagined what saying "no" could mean.

"If you say 'hey I don't want to be in a relationship,' you don't think someone is going to kill you for it," Kron said. "She always saw the best in people no matter what they did or said."

According to court documents, a witness said she heard the two in the bedroom and heard the victim asking to be let out of the room.

After being unable to open the door, the witness opened a window and saw the victim on the ground then Seviour jumped out the window.

Verbaere's older sister will remember her as a 15-year-old with a big heart.

"She's a people person, social butterfly," Kron said. "I'm hurt and I'm in shock about it."

Verbaere's family is making arrangements to honor her life.

Seviour was initially charged with murder and is scheduled to appear in court Monday.

The situation raises concerns about youth violence.

The Commonwealth's Attorney said 18 children were murdered in 2024. It's a 40% increase from 2023.

This year, LMPD data shows two homicide victims are between the ages of 11 and 17.

Christopher 2X, with Louisville anti-violence nonprofit Christopher 2X Game Changers, said children need to be taught about violence in their communities at a young age.

"Years ago, we used to think, this is not a befitting conversation to have with the kid that's in elementary school ages, that's out the door," 2X said. "Now we got to have those discussions and we got to be great, at least stewards for them to let them know about the warnings."

LMPD has tracked 16 homicides so far this year.

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