Overview

• 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.