Terrifying motive behind why father allegedly tossed newborn daughter into river filled with alligators

Brandon Isabelle is accused of killing Danielle Hoyle and baby Kennedy

Warning: This article contains mentions of child abuse and death that some readers may find distressing

A man accused of throwing his two-day-old daughter into the Mississippi River has disclosed his motive.

Brandon Isabelle, 28, faces charges of two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and neglect, and aggravated kidnapping after allegedly shooting and killing his girlfriend, then throwing their newborn baby into the Mississippi River.

He appeared in court on Tuesday, September 23, and was charged with the murders of Danielle Hoyle, 27, and their infant, Kennedy Hoyle.

He has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges, and jury selection for his upcoming trial concluded with the selection of 10 women and four men.

The prosecution stated that Isabelle and Danielle were both employed at FedEx and engaged in a sexual relationship, which resulted in Danielle's pregnancy.

Attorney Dru Carpenter noted that simultaneously, Isabelle was involved with another FedEx employee who allegedly wanted to break up with him because of the baby.

The trial of Brandon Isabelle has commenced (Action News 5)

On January 31, 2022, Danielle gave birth to Kennedy and was discharged from the hospital when Isabelle allegedly asked her to meet him in Whitehaven.

The prosecution claims this was under the pretense of giving her baby clothes, but it was a deception. They assert he lured her to Sedgwick Street and Levi Road, where he fatally shot her in the head and took the baby with him.

He then reportedly drove to the Mud Island Ramp and threw his two-day-old daughter into the river, which is infested with alligators.

The prosecution states the motive was his unwillingness to have the child, something he admitted during a status conference last month.

Isabelle was captured on video telling investigators that he killed his girlfriend and threw the baby into the river because he did not want her. Police reported that Isabelle allegedly confessed to the murders.

Officer Cody Sutton discovered Danielle’s body outside her Chevy Cruze, where he testified seeing blood on the driver’s seat before finding her body in the ditch next to the vehicle.

Sergeant Jeramy Cline of the Memphis Police Department's Homicide Bureau discussed visiting Danielle’s mother’s home, where she handed over her Apple watch to the police.

Upon reviewing the messages, Cline discovered a screenshot of a conversation in which Isabelle requested the baby be aborted.

Kennedy’s body has not been found yet.

Isabelle was swiftly identified as a suspect in 2022 and taken into custody. Prosecutors assert they possess DNA, video, and testimonial evidence to establish his guilt in both murders.

Danielle’s mother, April Campbell, testified that she learned about her daughter’s relationship with Isabelle in 2021 and did not support it.

“I said, ‘If he’s married, how do you think he’s going to treat you? If he’s not even treating his wife right, how’s he going to treat you right?’” Campbell remarked.