BATON ROUGE, LA – A Louisiana man has agreed to a plea deal that will likely see him spend the remainder of his life in prison for the fatal shootings of his pregnant girlfriend and her toddler son, whom he later threw off a bridge.
Brynnen Murphy, 23, pled guilty to two counts of manslaughter and one count of first-degree feticide, according to local authorities. The charges stem from the deaths of 24-year-old Kaylen Johnson and her 2-year-old son, Kaden Johnson. The plea comes after Murphy was initially charged with first-degree murder and later indicted for second-degree murder. His trial had been set to start next week before the plea agreement was reached.
Murphy is set to serve a 95-year sentence, effectively a life term, in a state correctional facility. The district attorney’s office struck the deal to prevent the family from enduring the graphic details of the case during a trial.
Prosecutors expressed that bringing closure without a trial was a priority. Given the nature of the evidence, including autopsy photographs and disturbing testimony, the decision was made to protect the family from additional trauma.
“The sentence ensures Murphy remains behind bars for the rest of his life, which we believe represents justice for the victims,” the district attorney stated.
On March 5, 2022, Kaylen and her son were last seen, sparking concern among family members who couldn’t reach them. A week later, police were called to perform a welfare check at Johnson’s residence. Though nothing appeared amiss initially, finding her abandoned vehicle without plates heightened suspicions.
In the days following, police efforts intensified as Murphy evaded contact. Eventually, he turned himself in and, during questioning, confessed to the murders. The tragic sequence unfolded after an argument led Murphy to fatally shoot Kaylen. With Kaden still in the vehicle, Murphy disposed of Kaylen’s body in a roadside ditch before throwing the toddler from a bridge.
The details of Kaden’s death were particularly harrowing; prosecutors revealed that he did not die from the fall but from exposure and starvation over several days. Law enforcement noted the chilling timeline, indicating mother and son had been deceased for about a week when discovered.
This resolution offers a measure of justice and spares the family from reliving the horrific details during a court trial, the district attorney assured.