Kate Brown and Carnell Sledge’s families issue statement after Cleveland Metroparks police provide an update on the investigation of their double homicide

In Cleveland, relatives of Kate Brown and Carnell Sledge released a statement on Saturday following reports from the Cleveland Metroparks police that they are looking into a possible connection between a recent murder-suicide in Kamm’s Corners and the murders of Brown and Sledge in 2019.

Cleveland Metroparks authorities mentioned in a statement on Friday that they are investigating whether Bryan Hurt might be linked to the double homicide that occurred in 2019.

The families of Kate Brown and Carnell Sledge addressed the issue on a Facebook page called “What Happened To Kate Brown & Carnell Sledge?,” stating that there is currently no concrete evidence connecting Hurt to the previous double murder.

“Our families hope that any potential lead is thoroughly examined and due to the close proximity of the Westpark murder, Metropark detectives are simply ‘taking a closer look,'” the statement reads. “Their case remains unsolved and the search for justice continues.” 

The families thanked the public for the “outpouring of support regarding the news stories yesterday” and said plans to honor Brown and Sledge’s memory will be announced soon, with the June 4 anniversary of their deaths approaching.

Brown and Sledge were fatally shot on a park bench in broad daylight on June 4, 2019 in the Cleveland Metroparks’ Rocky River Reservation.

The two were found dead by kayakers near the river north of the Lorain Road bridge. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner ruled their deaths as homicides, as both were shot in the head.

Authorities say Sledge and Brown arrived to the park in separate vehicles, parking in the lot north of the bridge around 5:04 p.m. The pair, who police say were longtime friends, sat on a park bench by the river for a short time before they were shot sometime between 5:08 and 5:15 p.m. The kayakers who found them arrived about three minutes later.

Despite years of investigation by police, the deaths of Brown and Sledge remain unsolved.

Earlier this year, their story was brought to a global audience through Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries,” sparking hope for justice.

“There’s certainly renewed interest in the case, which is important,” Cleveland Metroparks Police Detective Lieutenant Don Sylvis told 3News’ Candace Hare in February. “It’s a much larger audience than we typically had, so it’s been extremely valuable.” 

Since the deaths of Brown and Sledge, the department told 3News it has received around 100 tips, but the airing of the “Unsolved Mysteries” special led to dozens more.

“We still are committed to getting this,” said Cleveland Metroparks Police Chief Kelly Stillman said in February.

According to the Cleveland Division of Police, officers from the First District responded to a call for a man shot in the 15700 block of Munn Road at around 1:30 p.m. on May 14.

The 66-year-old Hurt allegedly shot and killed 68-year-old Thomas Overall as he was mowing his lawn.

Hurt was later found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a vehicle at the nearby Cleveland Metroparks Groth Memorial & Scenic Overlook. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

3News’ investigative reporter Lynna Lai found that Hurt had a history of violence and prison time.

In 2010, Hurt was convicted on charges from an incident at his home in which police say he let his dog out and encouraged it to attack a census taker who came to his residence.

A judge gave him a suspended sentence and probation.

Two months later, police arrested Hurt in a road rage incident in West Park.

According to the indictment, Hurt followed a driver who was with his wife and two kids, pulled alongside the family’s car and pointed a gun at them.

And it was in Rocky River court on those charges that police say Hurt became enraged that his bond changed and reportedly lunged at the bailiff and tried to grab the officer’s gun. 

Hurt had to be Tasered. The officer wound up with a broken nose.

In 2011, Hurt was sentenced to five years in prison.