Former Duke Football Player Charged After Confessing to 2024 Murder of High School Friend

Brandon Braxton, now in custody, admitted to killing Whitney Hurd in a confession submitted via a jail kiosk, solidifying the case against him.

Whitney Hurd, a 32-year-old Charlotte real estate agent, was found dead in her SouthPark townhome in July 2024, with multiple stab wounds.
Brandon Braxton, her former high school friend and a former Duke University football player, confessed to the murder on March 3, 2025, while in custody for unrelated crimes.
Braxton's fingerprints were found at the crime scene and in Hurd's stolen vehicle, linking him to the murder and robbery.
He was formally charged with first-degree murder and robbery on March 20, 2025, and is being held without bail as legal proceedings begin.
The case highlights a troubling history of escalating behavior by Braxton, including incidents of trespassing and breaking into Hurd's home prior to her death.