Brandon Isabelle, 28, is now at the center of one of Tennessee’s most harrowing criminal cases, accused of killing his girlfriend, Danielle Hoyle, and their two-day-old baby, Kennedy. Prosecutors say Isabelle shot Danielle on February 1, 2022, then discarded their newborn in the Mississippi River in an attempt to erase his responsibility. A Shelby County grand jury indicted him on charges including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated kidnapping, and neglect. When he appeared in court this week, a jury of ten women and four men was selected. Despite what prosecutors call overwhelming evidence, Isabelle pleaded not guilty.
According to investigators, both Isabelle and Danielle worked at FedEx and had been romantically involved. The pregnancy, prosecutors argue, became a point of conflict when Isabelle’s other girlfriend—also a FedEx employee—learned he was expecting a child with someone else and threatened to end their relationship. Prosecutor Dru Carpenter told jurors that Isabelle wanted to “eliminate the problem,” pointing to text messages pressuring Danielle to get an abortion. Danielle gave birth on January 31, and just hours after being discharged, Isabelle allegedly asked her to meet under the pretense of giving baby clothes.
What happened next, prosecutors say, was a calculated ambush. Isabelle allegedly lured Danielle to a street in Whitehaven, shot her in the head, and took the infant with him. He then drove to the Mud Island boat ramp and threw baby Kennedy into the Mississippi River, whose waters are known to be dangerous and alligator-filled. Officers testified that Isabelle later confessed on police bodycam, saying he discarded the newborn because he “didn’t want her.” Evidence presented in court included Danielle’s Apple Watch messages, blood found inside her vehicle, and investigators’ accounts of his admissions.
Danielle’s mother, April Campbell, tearfully recounted warning her daughter about Isabelle long before the pregnancy. While Danielle’s body was recovered, Kennedy has never been found, leaving the family shattered. As the trial proceeds, prosecutors plan to rely on DNA, video, and witness testimony to argue that Isabelle’s motive was rooted in selfishness and fear of losing another relationship. For Danielle’s family, justice remains the only hope in a tragedy with wounds that may never fully heal.
