Former Duke football player confesses to killing ex-real estate agent friend in her upscale townhome: police

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A erstwhile Duke University shot subordinate has allegedly confessed to sidesplitting his erstwhile precocious schoolhouse person and Charlotte, North Carolina, existent property cause Whitney Hurd, according to a constabulary affidavit.

Police recovered Hurd, 32, dormant with aggregate stab wounds successful her townhome successful Charlotte's upscale South Park vicinity connected July 14 of past twelvemonth portion responding to a telephone for aesculapian assistance that afternoon. Her mode of decease was ruled a homicide.

On March 3 of this year, Brandon Braxton, 33, allegedly submitted a written grievance to Mecklenburg County jailhouse officials, stating: "I killed Whitney Hurd," the affidavit states.

When authorities discovered Hurd past July, they noticed that her conveyance and telephone were missing.

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Whitney Hurd, 32, was recovered murdered successful her Charlotte townhome connected July 14, 2024. (Instagram)

Hurd's neighbour seemingly saw a antheral driving her achromatic BMW distant from her location connected the day of July 4, 2024, and determination was cipher successful the rider seat. The neighbour advised constabulary that Hurd ne'er fto anyone other thrust her vehicle.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) obtained a hunt warrant for Hurd's telephone and received her past known determination data, which led detectives to her vehicle, which was collected and processed arsenic evidence. Detectives were incapable to find her phone, but the lawsuit was inactive wrong the vehicle.

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Former Duke shot subordinate Brandon Braxton allegedly confessed to sidesplitting Hurd. (Mecklenburg County Jail)

Fingerprints from Hurd's conveyance were collected and processed, placing Braxton wrong her conveyance and residence.

Hurd's friends and household told constabulary that she and Braxton utilized to beryllium friends astatine Providence High School but they "lost interaction for galore years." Recently, Braxton seemingly began showing up astatine Hurd's residence, they said.

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Whitney Hurd was killed successful the South Park vicinity of Charlotte. (Google Maps)

Braxton was a wide receiver for Duke betwixt 2010 and 2013, according to the Duke Athletics website.

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Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Brandon Braxton looks for moving country against Stanford Cardinal information Michael Thomas during the archetypal fractional astatine Wallace Wade Stadium.   (Mark Dolejs-US PRESSWIRE)

In 1 incident, Braxton seemingly fell dormant successful Hurd's driveway, intoxicated, erstwhile she refused to fto him inside. Hurd besides called constabulary and told her household and friends erstwhile Braxton antecedently tried to interruption into her residence. 

In July 2024, Braxton was arrested and charged successful transportation with larceny of a centrifugal conveyance successful Pineville, a municipality neighboring Charlotte. Court records amusement that Braxton was arrested and released 4 times earlier helium was yet charged with execution connected March 20.

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In July 2024, Braxton was arrested and charged successful transportation with larceny of a centrifugal conveyance successful Pineville, a municipality neighboring Charlotte. (Mecklenburg County Sheriff)

On Aug. 8 of past year, detectives "signed Braxton retired of jail" and interviewed him. 

"He stated the past clip her saw Whitney, ‘she looked petrified.'"

"Braxton stated helium and Whitney utilized to bent retired successful precocious school. He stated helium had ne'er been wrong her conveyance but had been wrong her residence. He nodded his caput up and down successful the affirmative erstwhile asked if helium knew what happened to Whitney and wherever she presently was but would not supply further details. He stated the past clip her saw Whitney, ‘she looked petrified,’" the affidavit states.

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Duke Blue Devils moving backmost Josh Snead (9) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Brandon Braxton (5) during the archetypal 4th against the Texas A&M Aggies successful the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl astatine the Georgia Dome.  (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)

In January, Braxton was again arrested successful Pineville connected charges of trespassing and resisting a constabulary officer. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office took him into custody.

Following his confession connected March 3, detectives "reviewed video surveillance provided by the jailhouse which showed Braxton utilizing the kiosk successful the jailhouse connected 03/03/2025 astatine 0854 hours, the aforesaid day and clip erstwhile the grievance was filed."

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Braxton was arrested connected an unrelated complaint successful January. (Mecklenburg County Jail)

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Charlotte officials person since charged Braxton with first-degree execution and robbery connected March 20. Fox News Digital reached retired to his attorney.

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Hurd was a existent property cause and a beloved daughter, sister, aunt and friend, according to her obituary. "Her grin and laughter were infectious and you conscionable couldn’t assistance to beryllium drawn to her," the obituary states.