FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 24, 2026) – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today action from the Attorney General’s Office resulted in a guilty verdict against a man charged with killing his girlfriend, Kylie Marie Weitz.
On Tuesday, a Lewis County Jury found Damien Hebbeler, 23, guilty of Intentional Murder (Class A Felony). The jury recommended a 50-year sentence.
On August 9, 2023, Hebbeler intentionally shot and killed his girlfriend at close range. At trial, Hebbeler said he carried a special bullet with him, which was the same round used to shoot the victim in the face and kill her. Less than a year before the shooting, the defendant made statements that he wanted to kill Weitz.
A photo of Weitz is available here.
“Today’s jury verdict delivers hard-won justice and affirms that Kylie Marie Weitz’s life mattered,” said Attorney General Coleman. “In Kentucky, we take domestic violence crimes seriously, and we will continue to hold offenders accountable.”
Kentucky State Police (KSP) investigated the case. Assistant Attorney General Tony Skeans and Executive Director of the Attorney General's Special Prosecutions Unit Tim Cocanougher prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. Aaron Ash with the Attorney General’s Office of Victims Advocacy provided services to the surviving family.
Hebbeler will be sentenced on June 5. Download Hebbeler’s photo here.