Man on murder trial over girlfriend's killing and newborn's death, after baby discarded into Mississippi River

A Texas man, Brandon Isabelle, 28, faced first-degree murder charges on Tuesday as the second day of his criminal trial unfolded, accused of killing his girlfriend Danielle Hoyle, 27, and tossing their two-day-old daughter Kennedy into the alligator-infested Mississippi River. Prosecutors say Kennedy’s body was never recovered after she was discarded into the water near Mud Island during a sequence of events that stretched across several states.

Court records and witness testimony paint a portrait of a volatile relationship landscape. In addition to Hoyle, Isabelle was said to be dating another woman, Artesha Stewart, at the same time. Stewart testified that she believed Isabelle to be single at first, only later learning he was married with a five-year-old child but separated from his wife. The two women reportedly exchanged taunting messages about one another during what was described as a love triangle. Hoyle’s mother, April Campbell, testified that she warned her daughter against becoming involved with a married man, telling her, “If he’s married, how do you think he’s going to treat you?” Campbell said she later learned Isabelle was working toward separation but remained concerned about the relationship.

Authorities say Isabelle lured Hoyle to meet him in Memphis to bring their newborn daughter before he shot her in the head and disposed of Kennedy in the Mississippi River. Investigators allege that he threw the gun into the river at a separate location and left Kennedy’s car seat abandoned in a Walmart parking lot in an apparent effort to mislead investigators. Kennedy weighed about 6 pounds and was 17 inches long at the time of her death. Prosecutors described how a police helicopter joined the search, and an Amber Alert was issued for Kennedy after Hoyle’s family reported that the baby had been with a “woman,” but no child was found in the car shortly after.

Testimony and police documents indicate that, in the days leading up to the killing, Hoyle and Campbell shopped for baby supplies together, a scene Campbell described as hopeful and ordinary before the tragedy. On the day Hoyle introduced the baby to her mother, Campbell spent time with Kennedy, bonding and taking photos before Hoyle said she needed to take Kennedy back to the hospital. Campbell said she later learned she would meet up with Isabelle, and that he would become the focal point of the unfolding investigation. Police say Isabelle admitted to detectives in Memphis that he lured Danielle Hoyle and shot her in the head in what prosecutors described as a deliberate act tied to the ongoing relationship dynamics.

Isabelle was arrested in 2022 after investigators located an abandoned vehicle and, nearby, Hoyle’s body. Authorities publicly described how the case quickly evolved from a missing-child investigation into a homicide case, with Kennedy’s fate tied to the Mississippi River’s dangerous wildlife and the river’s notorious reputation for alligators. Investigators recovered the vehicle and followed leads that pointed to Mud Island, where the baby’s life ended, at least according to the affidavit detailing the case. The firearm allegedly used in the shooting was recovered from the river at a separate location, according to the same document.

Isabelle has pleaded not guilty to murder and is also charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated child abuse and neglect, and tampering or fabricating evidence. Prosecutors, describing a pattern of deceit and multiple relationships, say the defendant volleyed between partners and ultimately ended Hoyle’s life to avoid potential consequences tied to the paternity and parental responsibilities surrounding Kennedy.

The case underscores the chilling combination of personal betrayal and violent crime, as jurors weigh the allegations against the testimony of Hoyle’s family and the women involved in Isabelle’s life. As the trial proceeds, authorities and family members alike await a determination on whether the evidence presented will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Isabelle killed Hoyle and discarded their infant daughter into the river, leaving questions about Kennedy’s fate unresolved until a final verdict is reached.