Michelle Hurd was tragically discovered stabbed to death in her North Carolina townhome several months ago. Recently, a former high school classmate has been arrested and charged with her murder.
Authorities looked into Brandon Braxton, aged 33, following Hurd’s untimely passing in July. Despite evidence like his fingerprints being found in her stolen vehicle and in her residence, he was not initially charged in the investigation. The vehicle was later located abandoned.
Hurd’s family informed investigators that she and Braxton were friends during their high school years but had lost contact for a while. He had reappeared in her life by showing up uninvited at her home. Alarming incidents included him breaking into her residence, prompting her to call the police, and another time when she found him inebriated and asleep in her driveway after denying him entry.
But police got a break after he was arrested on unrelated charges in January. He had previously be arrested 10 days after the murder and again in October, all on unrelated charges, and released on bond. But after his arrest on January 23 in Pineville for trespassing and resisting, he was ordered held without bond.
Then, on March 3, Braxton submitted a grievance to the jail administrative sergeant that said, “I killed Whitney Hurd.”
Detectives took a look at jail surveillance video and saw that it was Braxton who accessed the jail kiosk at the time the grievance was submitted. On Tuesday, he was charged with first degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.
According to Queen City News, witnesses reported seeing a man driving Hurd’s car away from her home on July 4, 2024. DNA and fingerprints linked Braxton to the vehicle and the crime scene.
The affidavit also said that Braxton had been in contact with Hurd’s family and friends and he tried to reestablish a connection with her, but those witnesses reported that his behavior raised red flags.
According to WBTV, Braxton was arrested seven times in Mecklenburg County alone after Hurd’s murder, facing charges that included assault on a woman, simple assault, injury to property, and larceny.
His next court appearance is April 9.
