Brandon Isabelle: Father throws two-day-old daughter into alligator-infested Mississippi River
Brandon Isabelle, 28, is standing trial for the alleged murder of his girlfriend and their newborn daughter.
A Memphis man is standing trial for the alleged gruesome murder of his girlfriend and their newborn daughter, a crime that has left a family shattered.
Brandon Isabelle, now 28, is accused of orchestrating a brutal act in 2022 that claimed the life of 27-year-old Danielle Hoyle and left their two-day-old daughter, Kennedy, missing and presumed dead.
Prosecutors say Isabelle lured Ms Hoyle to a meeting spot in Memphis under the guise of seeing their child. Instead, he allegedly shot her and then hurled the infant into the Mississippi River.
Kennedy, who weighed just 2.7kg and measured 43cm, was never found despite extensive search efforts.
The Mississippi River, known for its strong currents and wildlife, including alligators spotted in the Memphis area in recent years, offered little hope of recovery.
Police launched an investigation after discovering Ms Hoyle’s body near an abandoned car. She had been shot in the head.
Family members told officers Kennedy had been with her, but the baby was nowhere to be found.
An Amber Alert was issued, and hours later, Kennedy’s car seat was discovered discarded in a Walmart car park. The chilling discovery deepened fears that the worst had happened.
Isabelle was quickly identified as a suspect. According to News Channel 3, he later confessed to detectives that he killed Ms Hoyle and threw Kennedy into the river because he didn’t want the child.
The case has devastated Kennedy’s maternal grandmother, April Campbell, who spoke through tears about the pain of losing both her daughter and granddaughter.
“I want him to suffer like he made my baby suffer. I want him to hurt. I don’t want it to be easy for him...why would you hurt a baby?” Ms Campbell told Action News 5.
She shared that she only got to hold Kennedy once, for ten fleeting minutes.
Court documents reveal Isabelle told police he drove to Mud Island and tossed Kennedy into the water from a boat ramp. He then disposed of the murder weapon at a separate location nearby.
Isabelle’s trial began Monday, with opening statements expected Tuesday. He faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, child abuse and neglect, and tampering with evidence. He has pleaded not guilty.
Ms Hoyle, who worked at FedEx, is survived by another daughter.
Two-day-old baby girl tossed into crocodile-infested river
A man is standing trial for the alleged gruesome murder of his girlfriend and their newborn daughter, absolutely shattering the family.
thenightly.com.au
