LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville man pleaded guilty Monday to a federal charge stemming from the death of a Butler High School senior, Madelynn Troutt, in 2021.

In a plea deal, Michael Dewitt pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in death. 

"It was emotional," Marcie Troutt, Madelynn's mother, said Tuesday. "I guess hearing him admit his guilt and say he was guilty was something I guess I didn't know I needed to hear."

Dewitt's sentencing is scheduled for January in federal court. 

"We're just ready to finally be able to put her to rest and then for our family to be able to finally begin the true healing process," Troutt said.

Madelynn's family has created a memorial scholarship at Bellarmine University in her name for future students. Before the crash, Madelynn had already been accepted to Bellarmine and planned to study nursing. Her family has created an annual golf scramble in her name to raise funds for the scholarship.

"Even though she isn't here with us, she is still helping others," Marcie Troutt said in a 2022 interview with WDRB News. "That's the kind of person she is, and I feel a sense of pride. I feel like we did something right with her. We raised her to be the helping, kind person that she is."

Madelynn Troutt

Madelynn Troutt (photo submitted by family)

Dewitt still has a murder charge pending in state court, for which his next hearing is scheduled for early 2025. He was charged with murder, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants and failure to stop and render aid in the death of Madelynn Troutt, among other charges.

The police citation says Dewitt, 27 at the time, was driving a stolen pickup truck northbound on Dixie Highway, near St. Andrews Church Road, when he crossed into the southbound lanes and hit another vehicle head-on. Dewitt had a high level of amphetamines and benzodiazepines in his system, according to a police toxicology report. 

Madelynn was driving the car that was hit. 

After the initial crash, Dewitt hit a pole and attempted to flee the scene, according to police. He was "detained by bystanders momentarily" until LMPD responded to the scene and took him into custody. 

At the time of the crash, Dewitt was out on a $5,000 bond. Just a week prior, he was charged with receiving stolen property after Shively Police said he was found near a stolen truck with his belongings inside. According to court documents, he injured an officer while he was trying to get away from police.

Dewitt was arrested Feb. 22, but, by Feb. 24, had been released from jail after the Louisville chapter of the Bail Project posted his $5,000 bond. The Bail Project provides bond assistance to those who can't afford it as a challenge to a system the organization says criminalizes race and poverty.

Madelynn's family filed a lawsuit against The Bail Project, which was later dismissed. Members of the Bail Project said they posted Dewitt's bond after identifying that he had a drug addiction and he agreed to seek rehabilitation treatment at Centerstone. 

Earlier this year, the Kentucky legislature passed House Bill 5, a sweeping anti-crime bill that, among many other things, stops charitable bail organizations from posting bail of $5,000 or more. "Madelynn's Law," as it was called, went into effect in July.

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