Following a seven-day trial, a man has been convicted of murdering his girlfriend and tossing their newborn daughter into a river. Brandon Isabelle, 28, initially pleaded not guilty but was found guilty in the deaths of Danielle Hoyle, 27, and their infant, Kennedy Hoyle. The jury recommended a life sentence for Isabelle, with the possibility of parole after 51 years.
The prosecution revealed that Isabelle and Danielle, who were co-workers at FedEx, had a romantic relationship that resulted in Danielle getting pregnant. Simultaneously, Isabelle was involved with another FedEx colleague who wanted to end their relationship due to the pregnancy.
Danielle gave birth to Kennedy on January 31, 2022, and afterward, met with Isabelle as per his request. Allegedly, Isabelle falsely claimed to provide baby clothes but instead led Danielle to a location where he fatally shot her before taking the baby.
Isabelle then drove to the Mud Island Ramp and threw the newborn into the Mississippi River, known for its alligator population. The investigation commenced when Danielle’s abandoned vehicle was discovered with signs of foul play, leading to the recovery of her body with a gunshot wound.
Danielle’s family reported that she was meeting Isabelle along with Kennedy, who was missing. Isabelle was swiftly identified as a suspect and taken into custody the day after Danielle’s body was found.
During interrogation, Isabelle admitted to luring Danielle, shooting her, and discarding Kennedy into the river because he did not want the child. Following the murders, he was seen purchasing gifts for another girlfriend and disposing of Kennedy’s belongings.
In a separate case, a man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for neglecting his two-month-old son to death. Kristopher Matthews, 40, was convicted of aggravated child abuse for the neglect that led to his son’s demise.
The prosecutor revealed that the infant drastically lost weight due to prolonged starvation, indicating severe neglect. Matthews confessed to never feeding his child, claiming he had no obligation to do so. He neglected to seek medical care for the baby after birth, leading to the tragic outcome.
Authorities compared the condition of the child’s body to a horror movie scene, emphasizing the avoidable suffering endured by the infant. Karson’s mother, Shirley Matthews, was also convicted of aggravated child abuse and received the same 20-year prison sentence.
The prosecutor lamented the tragic fate of the baby, blaming the Matthews couple for the child’s unnecessary suffering and eventual demise.