Katelynn Stone died a horrific death at 16 years old, allegedly at the hands of her adult lover’s girlfriend. At the time of the 2022 murder, Stone was dating 21-year-old Cody Arnold. She reportedly moved in with him and become pregnant. Arnold’s 25-year-old girlfriend, Chelsea Shipp, apparently wanted to save her boyfriend’s reputation, so she shot the teen in the head. Together, they tried to hide her body, but police quickly uncovered the crime. Both Arnold and Shipp will spend decades in prison for a crime that never had to happen.
The couple apparently worked up the courage to kill Katelynn.
According to court documents obtained by KMBT, Arnold and Shipp spent the hours leading up to Stone’s death on March 27, 2022, doing drugs.
“They were seen together. They were talking about what they were going to do. They were smoking meth that entire weekend to build up the courage to kill that girl,” Prosecutor Jimmy Hamm told a jury in court.
Shipp and Arnold apparently felt concern about how Stone’s pregnancy would affect his reputation.
Shipp allegedly killed the teenager.
KMBT reported that Arnold left the room, and when he returned, he saw Shipp holding a gun to Stone’s head. She pulled the trigger as Arnold watched. He did not try to stop her or help his teenage lover. Arnold told police that he covered Stone’s head with a bag following her death and that he did not call police to report the murder.
Police found Stone’s body in a residence in the 14000 block of Kolb’s Corner near Beaumont, Texas, according to a release from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. 12 News Now reported that the couple wrapped the teen’s head in a trash bag and the lower part of her body in a blanket. Investigators found a single shell casing on the pillowcase.
Stone’s family will never forget her.
Savannah Horn, the teen’s mom, posted a sweet dedication to her daughter on Facebook on March 26, 2026.
“Four long years without my oldest wild child! So many things I wish you were here to see and so many things I wish I could tell you but more than anything I just want to hold my baby one more time we love you Katelynn Nicole Stone,” she wrote in the post.
Friends added words of encouragement for the heartbroken mother.
“You are truly loved and missed not a day goes by without you in our hearts and minds please pray for our family and friends I love you all,” one person wrote.
“Forever #LLK and the burden of a promise I made holding her urn. Im sorry for the grief those two horrendous monsters caused to you and for them taking the brightest ray of light ever from you Savannah Horn from all of us,” another person added.
The couple will spend decades in prison.
Shipp accepted a plea deal and will spend the next 40 years in prison, per 12 News Now. A court convicted Arnold of murder and other charges, and he’ll spend 34 years in prison, according to KMBT.
Our hearts break for this family. Thankfully, they can have a bit of solace knowing their daughter’s killers will be in prison for a very long time. Just as they deserve.
