The trial has begun for a Tennessee man accused of killing his girlfriend and their 2-day-old daughter in 2022.
Brandon Isabelle, 28, allegedly convinced Danielle Hoyle, 27, to meet him in Memphis with their newborn daughter. WMC reported that police officers later discovered Hoyle’s body near her empty vehicle while searching for stolen cars in the area.
Before finding her body, officers located her abandoned vehicle, ran the plates, and contacted her family — who said they had not heard from her since she left the home with her daughter. Though officers found Hoyle fatally shot in the head, they could not locate her newborn daughter.
Isabelle, who was quickly detained, allegedly admitted to fatally shooting Hoyle before taking the baby out of the car seat and driving her to Upper Mud Island Boat Ramp. There, he threw the baby and the murder weapon in the Wolf River, which flows into the Mississippi River, according to WMC.
An AMBER Alert was issued for the newborn, but her body was never found.
Isabelle is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse or neglect, and aggravated kidnapping.
WREG reported that Isabelle was filmed explaining that he killed Hoyle and their daughter because he did not want the baby. Though Isabelle’s lawyers claimed the confession was illegally acquired, a judge found the confession was admissible and could be presented at trial.
Jury selection was completed on Monday. Opening statements are expected to begin on Tuesday.
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[Feature Photo: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation]
