Former Duke Football Star Confesses to Grisly Charlotte Murder in Affluent Neighborhood

CHARLOTTE, NC — In a chilling confession that has rocked both the sports and Charlotte communities, a former Duke University football standout has admitted to the brutal stabbing of his former high school friend inside her upscale townhome.

Brandon Braxton, a former Duke University football player, admitted to killing Whitney Hurd, 32, in a message sent through a jail kiosk on March 3, 2025, while he was incarcerated on unrelated charges. According to a recently unsealed affidavit, Braxton’s chilling written confession plainly stated: “I killed Whitney Hurd.” 

Hurd was reported missing by her family on July 11, 2024, after they hadn’t heard from her for several days. A private investigator discovered her body three days later, wrapped in bedding in her townhome on Werburgh Street in SouthPark. The affidavit confirms she had suffered multiple stab wounds, and the medical examiner ruled her death a homicide.

What We Know

Brandon Braxton and Whitney Hurd were once friends at Providence High School in Charlotte but had drifted apart over the years. In the months leading up to her murder, Hurd had allegedly experienced troubling encounters with Braxton, who was reportedly showing up uninvited at her home and behaving erratically. In one instance, police records state that Braxton fell asleep in her driveway after she refused to let him inside. He also allegedly broke into her home, prompting Hurd to contact police.

When her body was discovered, both her cell phone and white 2014 BMW X3 were missing. Neighbors reported seeing an unidentified man driving the BMW away from her home on July 4. Investigators later recovered the vehicle but never found the phone.

Braxton’s fingerprints were found both at the crime scene and inside Hurd’s stolen vehicle, placing him at the center of the investigation. Despite this, he was not immediately arrested. He was picked up on July 24 for an unrelated vehicle larceny and, during an interview with detectives, admitted to knowing Hurd and being inside her home. While he didn’t explicitly confess at the time, investigators noted that he “nodded in the affirmative” when asked about the murder. He was released from custody on August 14, 2024.

Braxton was jailed again in January 2025 for trespassing, and it was during this incarceration that he accessed the jail’s kiosk system and submitted the written confession to Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office staff. Officials confirmed his identity using surveillance footage and issued an arrest warrant on March 20. He was formally charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon and ordered held without bail after a court appearance on March 21.

In addition to the murder charge, Braxton is the defendant in multiple open criminal cases, including two separate incidents from October 2024.

Remembering Whitney Hurd

Whitney Hurd was known for her infectious smile, magnetic personality, and warm spirit. She was a successful real estate agent and a 2014 graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Hurd was laid to rest at a private cemetery on August 17, 2024, surrounded by family and friends who remembered her as a light in every room she entered.

About Brandon Braxton

Brandon Braxton was a highly recruited athlete who played football at Duke University from 2010 to 2013. A versatile player, he appeared in 43 games, scored three touchdowns, and logged 38 tackles as both a receiver and safety. After graduating in 2014, he returned to Charlotte, but according to accounts in the affidavit, his behavior reportedly became more erratic over the years.

Calls for Justice and Healing

The case has left both the Charlotte community and Braxton’s former athletic circles reeling, raising painful questions about missed red flags, mental health, and accountability. As the investigation continues and court proceedings unfold, those who knew Whitney Hurd are calling for justice in her name—while also remembering her for the joy she brought to others, not the tragic way her life was taken.