Murder Charges Filed In Case Park Carjacking

Murder charges were filed Monday in connection with a fatal carjacking last week at Case Park in downtown Kansas City.

Investigators said a man and a woman turned themselves in to authorities. One went to police on Sunday, the other on Monday.

Brandon Fauntleroy-McDowel, 25, was shot and killed on March 25 at Eighth and Jefferson streets. His red Chevrolet Tahoe was stolen. It was later found burned in Kansas City, Kan.

Marlan D. Epps, 18, and JaNae L. Haygood, 21, both of Kansas City, Kan., were each charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. The pair could face up to four life sentences if found guilty.

Investigators said there doesn't seem to be a connection between the suspects and the victim; Fauntleroy-McDowel was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

According to court papers, Haygood drove Epps to Case Park because they wanted to rob someone.

Fauntleroy-McDowel had just finished his last day working at State Street Financial Services, which is a block away from Case Park. He was also working to complete his master's degree and had plans for entering law school in the fall.

Fauntleroy-McDowel also volunteered at the Wyandotte Center, a place for children with emotional and behavioral disorders.

Relatives told KMBC's Martin Augustine that Fauntleroy-McDowel found it rewarding to work with children.

Police said a tipster helped solve the case.

"We got a lot of information from the TIPS Hot Line -- that was very useful," Jackson County Prosecutor Jim Kanatzar said.

Debra Jenkins, the victim's aunt, said her nephew was very devoted to helping others, and that may have caused the flood of tips to the hot line.

"This victim and his family, obviously, had a lot of friends in this community that were very anxious to help," Jenkins said.

Twyla Fauntleroy, the victim's mother, said the news of the arrests brings some measure of relief.

"We're elated. We're elated because God is the deliverer. The family, we're elated about it. And we know that justice will be done," Twyla Fauntleroy said. "We'd like to thank the city of Kansas City for taking care of this so speedily."

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• Fauntleroy-McDowel