A former Duke University football player, Brandon Braxton, has been charged with first-degree murder in the gruesome July 2024 killing of North Carolina realtor Whitney Hurd. Authorities say Braxton, once a wide receiver for the Blue Devils, confessed to the crime while in police custody.
Braxton’s alleged admission came after he was arrested for trespassing… one of seven run-ins with the law since Hurd’s murder. According to an affidavit obtained by the New York Post, while being held at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, he reportedly stated, “I killed Whitney Hurd.”
Hurd vanished in July 2024, sparking a frantic search. Just three days later, her body was discovered inside her Charlotte townhome, wrapped in bedding with multiple stab wounds.
Investigators zeroed in on Braxton after forensic evidence tied him to the crime scene. His fingerprints were reportedly found inside Hurd’s home and on her car. Alongside the murder charge, he now faces robbery with a dangerous weapon, as authorities claim he stole Hurd’s BMW X3 and cellphone.
Braxton and Hurd were once high school friends but had lost touch over the years. However, before the tragedy, reports suggest Braxton repeatedly showed up at Hurd’s residence… at one point, even falling asleep in her driveway.
Now, with the case moving through the court system, Braxton is set to appear before a judge on April 9.
