Former Duke University football player, Brandon Braxton, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon in connection to the death of North Carolina realtor, Whitney Hurd. The arrest came after Hurd was found dead in her Charlotte home on July 14, 2024, with the cause of death determined to be “multiple stab wounds” in a ruling of homicide. Braxton, 33, is currently being held without bond in Mecklenburg County jail following his arrest on Thursday, March 20.
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During Braxton’s first court appearance on Friday, March 21, Assistant District Attorney Madison Gladwell alleged that Braxton had confessed to killing Hurd while speaking with detectives. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has not yet responded to requests for comment on the case. Court records reveal that Braxton and Hurd were former high school friends who had lost touch for many years before Braxton reportedly started to appear at Hurd’s residence.
In an affidavit, it was disclosed that Hurd had refused Braxton entry into her home on one occasion, leading to a police call-out when he allegedly broke in. Family and friends of Hurd confirmed that Braxton had been attempting to reconnect with the realtor in the months prior to her death. Witnesses reported seeing a man driving Hurd’s car away from her residence on July 4, and family members reported her missing on July 11. Surveillance and cell phone records ultimately led police to Braxton, with fingerprints found in Hurd’s car matching those of the suspect.
Following his arrest on an unrelated charge in July 2024, Braxton was questioned by detectives regarding Hurd’s death. Despite initially denying being in her car, he implied awareness of her fate. In a surprising development, an affidavit revealed that Braxton submitted a grievance to authorities claiming responsibility for Hurd’s murder while in custody on an unrelated charge. Further investigations uncovered surveillance footage of him at a kiosk on the same date and time as the grievance filing.
Aside from the murder charges, Braxton also faces other pending charges, including assaulting a woman in October 2024 and arrests in January 2025 for resisting an officer and trespassing. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 9. This tragic case has shocked the local community, raising questions about the events leading up to Hurd’s untimely death and the circumstances surrounding Braxton’s alleged confession and actions. The legal proceedings are set to shed more light on this distressing incident as justice is sought for the victim and her loved ones.