Football star charged with murdering female friend in Charlotte

A woman named Whitney Hurd, 32, was found murdered in her Charlotte, North Carolina home on July 14, 2024. Almost a year later, former high school friend Brandon Braxton, 33, has been charged with her murder. Investigators say Braxton confessed to killing Hurd while he was in custody on unrelated charges. He wrote a note stating, "I killed Whitney Hurd," which led police to charge him on March 20. Braxton, a former college football player at Duke University, had previously been interviewed by police after Hurd's body was discovered but had not been charged at that time. According to police, Braxton's behavior towards Hurd escalated over time, and she had reported him to the police for stalking. A neighbor recalled seeing Braxton driving Hurd’s SUV alone on the day her body was found, which raised suspicions. Braxton has a history of criminal charges, including assault and indecent exposure. He once went missing in 2022 and was believed to be suffering from cognitive issues. He is now facing charges of first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon and is held in jail without bond.