1 00:00:07,974 --> 00:00:09,809 [Faith] Keiona Braxton is a young woman 2 00:00:09,843 --> 00:00:12,012 in the prime of her life. 3 00:00:12,045 --> 00:00:15,582 - Keiona was well-loved by everybody. 4 00:00:17,050 --> 00:00:18,651 - She was just starting to do her own thing, 5 00:00:18,685 --> 00:00:20,820 on her own terms. 6 00:00:20,854 --> 00:00:22,288 [Faith] She falls in love, 7 00:00:22,322 --> 00:00:24,958 looking forward to a bright future ahead. 8 00:00:24,991 --> 00:00:25,892 - She kept saying, 9 00:00:25,925 --> 00:00:28,762 "I'm talking to this cute boy on my job." 10 00:00:28,795 --> 00:00:30,130 - He had his baby, 11 00:00:30,163 --> 00:00:32,132 and she was filling that role as stepmom. 12 00:00:32,165 --> 00:00:34,267 That was their little family. 13 00:00:35,101 --> 00:00:37,771 [Faith] But when Keiona is found brutally murdered. 14 00:00:37,804 --> 00:00:39,739 - She was stabbed. 15 00:00:39,773 --> 00:00:41,708 She was struck in the head. 16 00:00:41,741 --> 00:00:42,742 She was shot. 17 00:00:43,677 --> 00:00:45,478 - It's a crime of passion or some sort of 18 00:00:45,512 --> 00:00:47,180 deep hatred for the person. 19 00:00:47,514 --> 00:00:50,717 [Faith] Investigators uncover a terrorizing past 20 00:00:50,750 --> 00:00:52,419 with a history of violence. 21 00:00:52,752 --> 00:00:55,088 - Keiona had to get 22 stitches. 22 00:00:56,056 --> 00:00:57,757 - Keiona gets up off the couch and say, 23 00:00:57,791 --> 00:00:59,459 "What are you doing in my house?" 24 00:00:59,492 --> 00:01:01,227 - That scared her, that kind of woke her up. 25 00:01:01,261 --> 00:01:03,096 [Faith] That leads her down the path 26 00:01:03,129 --> 00:01:05,131 to a killer relationship. 27 00:01:06,833 --> 00:01:10,070 - Everybody is going to tell you a lie. 28 00:01:10,637 --> 00:01:21,614 [dramatic music] 29 00:01:22,315 --> 00:01:24,584 - You know the old saying about relationships, 30 00:01:24,617 --> 00:01:26,753 two's company, three's a crowd. 31 00:01:26,786 --> 00:01:28,188 Well, I've seen plenty of love triangles 32 00:01:28,221 --> 00:01:29,889 play out in family court, 33 00:01:29,923 --> 00:01:31,624 and I can tell you this, 34 00:01:31,658 --> 00:01:33,326 it never ends well. 35 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:36,129 Twenty-six-year-old Keiona Braxton 36 00:01:36,162 --> 00:01:39,299 certainly never imagined she'd be in a love triangle, 37 00:01:39,332 --> 00:01:40,900 especially after she believes 38 00:01:40,934 --> 00:01:42,936 she found the man of her dreams. 39 00:01:43,336 --> 00:01:45,171 But here's the bottom line, 40 00:01:45,205 --> 00:01:48,274 when one plus one equals three, 41 00:01:48,308 --> 00:01:51,911 at least one person always gets hurt in the equation. 42 00:01:51,945 --> 00:01:54,381 [dramatic music] 43 00:01:54,414 --> 00:01:56,316 [siren wailing] 44 00:01:56,349 --> 00:01:59,486 [piano music] 45 00:01:59,519 --> 00:02:02,455 [Joyce] I raised four kids in Richmond. 46 00:02:03,823 --> 00:02:06,059 Keiona was my baby, 47 00:02:06,092 --> 00:02:07,961 and she was very spoiled, 48 00:02:08,061 --> 00:02:11,698 and she was well-loved by everybody. 49 00:02:12,365 --> 00:02:14,934 - I was born on March of '81 50 00:02:14,968 --> 00:02:17,637 and she was born in July of '82. 51 00:02:18,705 --> 00:02:20,940 But sometimes it seemed like she was the older sister 52 00:02:20,974 --> 00:02:22,509 and I was the younger sister. 53 00:02:22,842 --> 00:02:24,277 She was the boss. 54 00:02:24,978 --> 00:02:27,614 [Joyce] They all were very close. 55 00:02:27,647 --> 00:02:29,482 They stick together. 56 00:02:29,516 --> 00:02:32,952 I had four bedrooms, but you wouldn't believe it or not, 57 00:02:32,986 --> 00:02:35,488 they all slept in one bedroom. 58 00:02:36,389 --> 00:02:37,957 [Temeal] She was a girly girl. 59 00:02:37,991 --> 00:02:40,593 Keiona liked nails and getting her hair done. 60 00:02:40,627 --> 00:02:42,929 She liked doing hair, she liked getting dressed up. 61 00:02:42,962 --> 00:02:45,965 [upbeat music] 62 00:02:45,999 --> 00:02:49,536 - Keiona became popular in middle and high school. 63 00:02:49,569 --> 00:02:51,705 That's when she grew up 64 00:02:51,738 --> 00:02:53,973 and into a little teenager. 65 00:02:54,007 --> 00:02:55,742 - She always got good grades, we all did. 66 00:02:55,775 --> 00:02:58,178 That was one of the things that my mom expected from us. 67 00:02:59,946 --> 00:03:02,148 [dramatic music] 68 00:03:02,182 --> 00:03:04,050 Keiona was figuring out what she want to do. 69 00:03:04,050 --> 00:03:06,052 That's the type of person that she was, a planner. 70 00:03:06,052 --> 00:03:07,554 She was very responsible. 71 00:03:08,221 --> 00:03:10,557 - When she graduated high school, 72 00:03:10,590 --> 00:03:13,293 she was just starting to do her own thing on her, 73 00:03:13,326 --> 00:03:14,794 you know, on her own terms. 74 00:03:15,929 --> 00:03:17,931 She had different odd jobs. 75 00:03:18,765 --> 00:03:22,068 She stayed for years for a cleaning company. 76 00:03:22,068 --> 00:03:23,770 And she was about to become a manager. 77 00:03:23,803 --> 00:03:26,773 She would come in early, did anything they needed done. 78 00:03:26,806 --> 00:03:28,408 They loved Keiona at the job. 79 00:03:29,476 --> 00:03:31,711 [Faith] And Keiona found love on the job. 80 00:03:32,178 --> 00:03:35,482 In December, 2004 when she's 22, 81 00:03:35,515 --> 00:03:38,151 Keiona meets a man and quickly realizes 82 00:03:38,184 --> 00:03:40,286 that he may be the one. 83 00:03:42,088 --> 00:03:42,956 [Paulette] She kept saying, 84 00:03:42,989 --> 00:03:45,625 "I'm talking to this cute boy on my job." 85 00:03:46,092 --> 00:03:47,427 His name Kenny. 86 00:03:47,827 --> 00:03:50,597 Kenny was a driver for this cleaning company. 87 00:03:50,630 --> 00:03:52,699 Kenny was a little older than her. 88 00:03:53,466 --> 00:03:54,801 [Joyce] She brought him over the house 89 00:03:54,834 --> 00:03:57,937 to introduce him to the family. 90 00:03:57,971 --> 00:04:00,173 He was a real nice guy. 91 00:04:00,206 --> 00:04:02,909 She really wanted to be with him 92 00:04:02,942 --> 00:04:05,578 and that was the one for her. 93 00:04:06,446 --> 00:04:09,049 - He surprised her and took her to The Bahamas. 94 00:04:09,082 --> 00:04:12,052 [Caribbean music] 95 00:04:12,085 --> 00:04:14,287 Kenny was good to Keiona. 96 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,057 If she wanted something, he would do his best to do it. 97 00:04:17,090 --> 00:04:18,591 She was happy. 98 00:04:18,625 --> 00:04:22,495 [Caribbean music] 99 00:04:22,529 --> 00:04:25,832 Kenny is Keiona's love of her life. 100 00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:28,668 The love of her life. 101 00:04:29,102 --> 00:04:31,204 [Faith] But Kenny comes with baggage, 102 00:04:31,237 --> 00:04:32,539 the good kind, 103 00:04:32,572 --> 00:04:35,742 and it only makes Keiona love him more. 104 00:04:35,775 --> 00:04:38,078 [Paulette] When Kenny and Keiona started talking, 105 00:04:38,111 --> 00:04:40,780 Kenny had just got out of a relationship 106 00:04:40,814 --> 00:04:44,484 with his high school sweetheart, Kayla Armstrong. 107 00:04:45,452 --> 00:04:48,288 They had a daughter, Michaela together. 108 00:04:48,321 --> 00:04:50,390 Kenny is a great father. 109 00:04:50,423 --> 00:04:53,293 Michaela was a cute little girl. 110 00:04:53,326 --> 00:04:55,528 She's a little chocolate little baby. 111 00:04:57,097 --> 00:04:59,499 She's very friendly, 112 00:04:59,532 --> 00:05:01,901 and Keiona loved Michaela. 113 00:05:03,536 --> 00:05:05,105 [Temeal] And then they started living together 114 00:05:05,138 --> 00:05:06,740 and he had his baby, 115 00:05:06,773 --> 00:05:09,109 and she was filling that role as stepmom. 116 00:05:09,142 --> 00:05:10,677 That was their little family. 117 00:05:12,145 --> 00:05:14,447 [Paulette] Michaela was about three years old. 118 00:05:14,481 --> 00:05:19,819 Keiona made sure when Michaela comes over, 119 00:05:19,853 --> 00:05:21,121 she'll have her own space, 120 00:05:21,154 --> 00:05:24,124 her room, her TV, toys, 121 00:05:24,157 --> 00:05:26,493 to make Michaela feel comfortable. 122 00:05:28,061 --> 00:05:29,929 [Temeal] Keiona loved Michaela. 123 00:05:29,963 --> 00:05:34,567 I heard her mention that Michaela called her mom before. 124 00:05:34,601 --> 00:05:40,073 [gentle music] 125 00:05:40,106 --> 00:05:42,275 - Keiona found out she was pregnant 126 00:05:42,308 --> 00:05:45,378 around Thanksgiving, 2008. 127 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,849 She was so happy, she couldn't hold it in. 128 00:05:50,884 --> 00:05:53,153 Keiona wanted to have a baby, 129 00:05:53,186 --> 00:05:55,855 but she say first Kenny say he didn't want it. 130 00:05:57,190 --> 00:06:01,728 Kenny wasn't too happy about having a baby. 131 00:06:03,096 --> 00:06:04,631 - He was upset that she was pregnant. 132 00:06:04,664 --> 00:06:06,666 He didn't want any more kids at the time. 133 00:06:07,834 --> 00:06:09,769 He really wasn't excited about the baby. 134 00:06:10,537 --> 00:06:14,040 [Joyce] But Keiona said he went on and accepted it. 135 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:15,041 They good. 136 00:06:15,675 --> 00:06:17,177 She was pregnant. 137 00:06:17,210 --> 00:06:19,813 They was going to get married. 138 00:06:19,846 --> 00:06:21,748 I was happy for them. 139 00:06:22,749 --> 00:06:25,418 - Whether it's an additional strain on finances, 140 00:06:25,452 --> 00:06:27,187 the added responsibility, 141 00:06:27,220 --> 00:06:29,556 or simply the sheer lack of sleep, 142 00:06:29,589 --> 00:06:31,458 adding a newborn baby to the mix 143 00:06:31,491 --> 00:06:34,594 puts a mountain of pressure on any couple, 144 00:06:34,627 --> 00:06:38,231 but particularly when one of them isn't ready. 145 00:06:38,264 --> 00:06:41,201 At least outwardly, Kenny seems to come to terms 146 00:06:41,234 --> 00:06:44,070 with how drastically his life will change. 147 00:06:44,070 --> 00:06:47,707 But then, just a month after the pregnancy announcement, 148 00:06:47,741 --> 00:06:51,644 it's Keiona's life that takes a terrible turn. 149 00:06:51,678 --> 00:06:55,482 [ominous music] 150 00:06:55,515 --> 00:06:59,419 - December 31st, 2008, 151 00:06:59,452 --> 00:07:02,222 at 6:40 in the morning New Year's Eve, 152 00:07:02,255 --> 00:07:04,524 my police cell phone rings. 153 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,462 There's a death in an apartment complex 154 00:07:09,496 --> 00:07:10,830 about a mile and a half 155 00:07:10,864 --> 00:07:13,500 north of the border of Richmond, Virginia. 156 00:07:14,901 --> 00:07:17,504 Neighbors awoke because of the smell of smoke. 157 00:07:18,505 --> 00:07:22,108 So, I thought it was smoke inhalation issue 158 00:07:22,142 --> 00:07:23,643 or something like that. 159 00:07:24,811 --> 00:07:27,947 It was becoming light when I arrived. 160 00:07:28,882 --> 00:07:31,351 At that point, the fire was extinguished. 161 00:07:32,285 --> 00:07:33,319 [dramatic music] 162 00:07:33,353 --> 00:07:35,789 - Earlier when the fire department first arrived, 163 00:07:35,822 --> 00:07:37,824 they noticed smoke coming outta the upstairs window 164 00:07:37,857 --> 00:07:38,858 of the apartment. 165 00:07:39,893 --> 00:07:41,061 Only in that apartment. 166 00:07:41,728 --> 00:07:44,464 They don't get a response at the door. 167 00:07:44,497 --> 00:07:46,700 So, they break the door in. 168 00:07:48,301 --> 00:07:50,170 - When they made entry into the apartment, 169 00:07:50,203 --> 00:07:53,239 immediately saw the blood. 170 00:07:53,273 --> 00:07:56,443 [ominous music] 171 00:07:56,476 --> 00:07:58,078 And then, at the same time, 172 00:07:58,078 --> 00:08:02,282 there was apparently a African-American female 173 00:08:02,315 --> 00:08:04,484 found inside in the back of the apartment 174 00:08:04,517 --> 00:08:06,486 near the patio door. 175 00:08:09,022 --> 00:08:10,490 [Kevin] The fire department pulled the victim 176 00:08:10,523 --> 00:08:11,858 out of the house... 177 00:08:13,093 --> 00:08:14,861 realized she wasn't breathing, 178 00:08:14,894 --> 00:08:16,329 performed CPR 179 00:08:16,363 --> 00:08:18,898 and other attempts to save her. 180 00:08:21,234 --> 00:08:23,036 - She was stabbed. 181 00:08:23,036 --> 00:08:24,304 She was shot. 182 00:08:24,337 --> 00:08:25,939 She was struck in the head. 183 00:08:26,039 --> 00:08:27,707 She had defensive wounds. 184 00:08:27,741 --> 00:08:30,043 Obviously a fight occurred. 185 00:08:31,945 --> 00:08:33,847 - It appeared that her death was consist 186 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,548 more with a homicide. 187 00:08:36,349 --> 00:08:39,486 - It was clear that the fire was set 188 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:41,888 to try to cover up the murder. 189 00:08:43,056 --> 00:08:47,227 I had spoke to the young ladies who lived next door. 190 00:08:47,627 --> 00:08:51,131 They informed me who the deceased was, 191 00:08:51,164 --> 00:08:52,098 Keiona Braxton. 192 00:08:54,267 --> 00:08:58,471 So now, I'm looking for a brutal killer. 193 00:08:58,938 --> 00:09:01,708 Somebody who planned it, 194 00:09:01,741 --> 00:09:04,344 and then, made sure that she was dead. 195 00:09:04,377 --> 00:09:08,515 [dramatic music] 196 00:09:09,015 --> 00:09:10,583 [Kevin] The fact that almost all the stab wounds 197 00:09:10,617 --> 00:09:11,885 are in the abdomen, 198 00:09:11,918 --> 00:09:13,453 that's probably not a coincidence. 199 00:09:14,087 --> 00:09:16,356 - I just always felt something weird about him, 200 00:09:16,389 --> 00:09:18,324 like he was hiding from something. 201 00:09:18,625 --> 00:09:20,493 - He broke up with her, 202 00:09:20,527 --> 00:09:22,929 but when he was done, she wasn't done. 203 00:09:24,364 --> 00:09:26,833 [Charles] There was a fight 18 months prior. 204 00:09:27,300 --> 00:09:29,469 Keiona had to get 22 stitches. 205 00:09:30,136 --> 00:09:32,672 It's hard to understand, to wrap your mind around 206 00:09:32,706 --> 00:09:34,908 going through that type of assault. 207 00:09:40,046 --> 00:09:42,282 - A tragic way to end the year here in Henrico County, today. 208 00:09:42,315 --> 00:09:44,684 You can see investigators still on scene 209 00:09:44,718 --> 00:09:47,153 as firefighters found the remains of a young woman 210 00:09:47,187 --> 00:09:49,589 inside this two-story townhouse style apartment 211 00:09:49,622 --> 00:09:51,324 early this morning. 212 00:09:51,358 --> 00:09:53,259 - The young woman is identified 213 00:09:53,293 --> 00:09:56,129 as 26-year-old Keiona Braxton. 214 00:09:56,162 --> 00:09:59,132 Even without an official ruling from the coroner, 215 00:09:59,165 --> 00:10:01,501 it's obvious to first responders 216 00:10:01,534 --> 00:10:04,170 that her death was not caused by the fire. 217 00:10:04,671 --> 00:10:07,707 Keiona is the victim of a brutal homicide. 218 00:10:08,541 --> 00:10:11,011 While fire crews sift through the ashes, 219 00:10:11,044 --> 00:10:14,514 Keiona's mother receives a call that ultimately turns 220 00:10:14,547 --> 00:10:16,116 into her worst nightmare. 221 00:10:17,817 --> 00:10:19,386 - I was at home. 222 00:10:19,419 --> 00:10:22,689 I got a phone call from Kenny. 223 00:10:22,722 --> 00:10:24,624 - And he said a neighbor called, 224 00:10:24,657 --> 00:10:27,260 said that they had a fire at their house 225 00:10:27,293 --> 00:10:29,662 and he was up north for his job. 226 00:10:29,696 --> 00:10:30,463 - Kenny was like, 227 00:10:30,497 --> 00:10:32,899 "Could you all go check on Keiona?" 228 00:10:33,833 --> 00:10:36,870 I start calling her and she's not answering the phone. 229 00:10:36,903 --> 00:10:39,272 - He acted like he was worried. 230 00:10:40,106 --> 00:10:42,342 I said, "Do you think she in there?" 231 00:10:42,375 --> 00:10:43,710 He said, "Yeah." 232 00:10:45,445 --> 00:10:48,048 And then I rushed over there. 233 00:10:49,749 --> 00:10:51,718 And I saw ambulance came 234 00:10:51,751 --> 00:10:54,287 from where her apartment at 235 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:55,789 with no sirens on. 236 00:10:55,822 --> 00:10:57,991 It went past and my heart just dropped. 237 00:10:59,859 --> 00:11:02,228 I know my daughter in there. 238 00:11:03,730 --> 00:11:05,699 - They took Joyce 239 00:11:05,732 --> 00:11:07,867 and asked her to come into the police car. 240 00:11:08,735 --> 00:11:11,237 - That's when they told me, 241 00:11:11,604 --> 00:11:14,074 and I just ain't going to say no more. 242 00:11:14,074 --> 00:11:16,076 I jumped out the car, 243 00:11:16,076 --> 00:11:19,446 and I told all the family and everybody, 244 00:11:19,479 --> 00:11:21,815 you know, just hugging and crying and all 245 00:11:21,848 --> 00:11:24,617 'cause we couldn't believe it. 246 00:11:25,885 --> 00:11:29,189 - She told me she was pregnant about a month before 247 00:11:29,222 --> 00:11:30,156 she was killed. 248 00:11:31,124 --> 00:11:33,460 It's horrible, hurtful. 249 00:11:33,493 --> 00:11:35,195 It hurts you to your soul. 250 00:11:36,896 --> 00:11:38,264 [Faith] As the reality of the loss 251 00:11:38,298 --> 00:11:39,933 of Keiona and her unborn baby 252 00:11:39,966 --> 00:11:42,802 slowly sinks in for her family, 253 00:11:42,836 --> 00:11:47,374 the investigators quickly began scrutinizing a crime scene 254 00:11:47,407 --> 00:11:49,843 compromised by ash and smoke. 255 00:11:50,443 --> 00:11:51,911 [Charles] One of the things we would be looking for 256 00:11:51,945 --> 00:11:54,948 is signs of a burglary, a breaking and entering, 257 00:11:54,981 --> 00:11:56,483 but in this case, 258 00:11:56,516 --> 00:11:59,319 because the fire department 259 00:11:59,352 --> 00:12:02,655 broke the door down to gain entry, 260 00:12:02,689 --> 00:12:04,924 we don't know how the person got into the house. 261 00:12:05,759 --> 00:12:08,194 [Kevin] There was blood all over the house. 262 00:12:08,228 --> 00:12:11,164 Blood was transferred along the walls and floors. 263 00:12:12,465 --> 00:12:14,501 To commit murders of this intensity 264 00:12:14,534 --> 00:12:16,936 with that many stab wounds, 265 00:12:16,970 --> 00:12:20,173 and then, an additional shot from a firearm, 266 00:12:20,206 --> 00:12:21,508 it's a crime of passion 267 00:12:21,541 --> 00:12:24,110 or some sort of deep hatred for the person. 268 00:12:24,144 --> 00:12:27,847 [ominous music] 269 00:12:27,881 --> 00:12:30,216 [Charles] The fire originated from 270 00:12:30,250 --> 00:12:31,251 an upstairs bedroom 271 00:12:31,284 --> 00:12:34,654 where a collection of presents were on the bed. 272 00:12:34,688 --> 00:12:38,758 Downstairs, the burners from the gas stove, 273 00:12:38,792 --> 00:12:40,794 they were actually on. 274 00:12:41,428 --> 00:12:44,464 The knobs to the gas are taken off. 275 00:12:45,331 --> 00:12:49,202 And there were actually aerosol cans within the oven. 276 00:12:50,837 --> 00:12:52,839 The only reason I can think of 277 00:12:52,872 --> 00:12:56,476 why somebody would place aerosol cans 278 00:12:56,509 --> 00:12:58,712 into an oven that's on 279 00:12:58,745 --> 00:13:00,714 is to cause an explosion. 280 00:13:01,581 --> 00:13:05,318 So, this isn't a run-of-the-mill homicide. 281 00:13:05,585 --> 00:13:08,521 Somebody wanted to make sure that 282 00:13:08,555 --> 00:13:10,123 Keiona was dead. 283 00:13:11,825 --> 00:13:16,062 [Andrew] Recovered from the home were hairs, 284 00:13:16,062 --> 00:13:17,163 fibers, 285 00:13:17,197 --> 00:13:18,465 photographs, 286 00:13:18,498 --> 00:13:19,699 clothing was seized, 287 00:13:19,733 --> 00:13:23,870 and they were able to locate one .380 caliber shell casing. 288 00:13:25,205 --> 00:13:28,575 - But there was no .380 handgun found 289 00:13:28,608 --> 00:13:29,809 at the scene. 290 00:13:32,245 --> 00:13:34,848 - What investigators do find at the scene 291 00:13:34,881 --> 00:13:37,617 is plenty of expensive jewelry and electronics. 292 00:13:37,917 --> 00:13:39,953 It's a telltale sign. 293 00:13:39,986 --> 00:13:42,822 The killer didn't come for Keiona's things. 294 00:13:42,856 --> 00:13:45,191 The killer came for Keiona. 295 00:13:47,093 --> 00:13:48,361 [Andrew] We wanted to speak to the neighbors 296 00:13:48,395 --> 00:13:51,097 to see if they saw anything or heard anything. 297 00:13:51,097 --> 00:13:54,100 It is strange, but they didn't hear a full-blown fight. 298 00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:56,836 They did not hear gunshots. 299 00:13:56,870 --> 00:13:59,105 They did not hear screaming. 300 00:14:00,306 --> 00:14:02,876 [Faith] With no eye witnesses to the crime, 301 00:14:02,909 --> 00:14:05,779 detectives turned their attention to the first suspect 302 00:14:05,812 --> 00:14:08,248 in any murder investigation, 303 00:14:08,281 --> 00:14:10,050 the significant other. 304 00:14:10,083 --> 00:14:13,887 In this case, it's Keiona's boyfriend, Kenny Lee. 305 00:14:15,155 --> 00:14:18,458 - The primary person of interest initially 306 00:14:18,491 --> 00:14:21,628 was the live-in boyfriend, Kenny. 307 00:14:21,661 --> 00:14:22,662 Where is he? 308 00:14:22,696 --> 00:14:24,864 Where was he at the time? 309 00:14:25,965 --> 00:14:27,067 [Charles] When I spoke to him, 310 00:14:27,067 --> 00:14:30,370 he was on his way back on 95, 311 00:14:30,403 --> 00:14:32,339 leaving the Philadelphia area. 312 00:14:33,340 --> 00:14:37,344 He already knew that Keiona had passed away. 313 00:14:38,211 --> 00:14:41,081 Kenny Lee, sort of in a frantic state. 314 00:14:41,114 --> 00:14:43,650 He did agree that he would come to our office 315 00:14:43,683 --> 00:14:46,152 to speak with us when he gets back to town. 316 00:14:46,186 --> 00:14:50,156 He was probably at least three-and-a-half hours away. 317 00:14:51,591 --> 00:14:53,893 All we had was Kenny's word 318 00:14:53,927 --> 00:14:56,229 that he was not there that morning. 319 00:14:57,664 --> 00:14:59,466 [Faith] But is that word the truth? 320 00:14:59,899 --> 00:15:01,935 After they finish at the crime scene, 321 00:15:02,035 --> 00:15:04,604 investigators head over to the Braxton home. 322 00:15:05,605 --> 00:15:08,608 As difficult as it is when the family is grieving, 323 00:15:08,641 --> 00:15:11,144 it's the people who know the victim best 324 00:15:11,177 --> 00:15:14,381 who often provide the most helpful information. 325 00:15:18,551 --> 00:15:20,387 [Temeal] The police officers, they came to the house 326 00:15:20,420 --> 00:15:21,388 and talked to my mom. 327 00:15:21,421 --> 00:15:23,690 I think my mom was trying to keep it together 328 00:15:23,723 --> 00:15:26,059 for the family, 329 00:15:26,659 --> 00:15:29,963 but I know that was really hard for her, she was hurting. 330 00:15:30,864 --> 00:15:32,732 - Things weren't clicking too well for me. 331 00:15:32,766 --> 00:15:35,702 I was just thinking about my daughter 332 00:15:35,735 --> 00:15:37,470 and my grandbaby. 333 00:15:39,139 --> 00:15:40,840 [Temeal] But my sister was dead 334 00:15:40,874 --> 00:15:42,709 and her baby. 335 00:15:42,742 --> 00:15:44,911 I really wanna know why? 336 00:15:44,944 --> 00:15:47,147 How can you be so cruel, 337 00:15:47,180 --> 00:15:48,715 so evil? 338 00:15:48,748 --> 00:15:50,083 [Charles] Speaking to the family, 339 00:15:50,083 --> 00:15:52,118 I could feel the hurt in their voices 340 00:15:52,152 --> 00:15:56,456 and the room was packed with family members 341 00:15:56,489 --> 00:15:58,324 and friends of Keiona Braxton. 342 00:15:58,925 --> 00:16:03,329 That says to me that Keiona is a good person, 343 00:16:03,363 --> 00:16:05,365 Keiona was loved. 344 00:16:05,398 --> 00:16:09,035 [ominous music] 345 00:16:09,069 --> 00:16:12,872 So, you know, wanting justice for Keiona, 346 00:16:12,906 --> 00:16:14,240 I would name all the people 347 00:16:14,274 --> 00:16:16,376 that she could have had problems with. 348 00:16:16,409 --> 00:16:20,046 Could be old boyfriends of the deceased, 349 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:23,283 could be old girlfriends of Kenny Lee. 350 00:16:24,284 --> 00:16:27,721 [Joyce] Kenny's ex-girlfriend Kayla, 351 00:16:27,754 --> 00:16:30,256 she was jealous of my daughter. 352 00:16:30,790 --> 00:16:33,727 I'm quite sure she did that to my daughter. 353 00:16:34,361 --> 00:16:36,529 [Charles] They said that we needed to look 354 00:16:36,563 --> 00:16:38,365 at Kayla Armstrong. 355 00:16:40,066 --> 00:16:41,301 One of the questions they asked was, 356 00:16:41,334 --> 00:16:43,136 you know, "Have you spoke to Kenny Lee?" 357 00:16:44,404 --> 00:16:45,505 - Nobody wants to believe 358 00:16:45,538 --> 00:16:48,241 that somebody's gonna kill somebody in a relationship 359 00:16:48,274 --> 00:16:49,275 that is going on, 360 00:16:49,309 --> 00:16:53,079 but the family had strong feelings against him. 361 00:16:53,446 --> 00:16:56,149 [Paulette] Definitely Kenny had something to do with it. 362 00:16:56,182 --> 00:17:00,120 Maybe him and Kayla is in cahoots with this. 363 00:17:00,820 --> 00:17:03,023 That was the first thing on our mind. 364 00:17:08,661 --> 00:17:12,165 [dramatic music] 365 00:17:12,198 --> 00:17:14,768 - Just hours after Keiona Braxton is found 366 00:17:14,801 --> 00:17:16,870 murdered in her burning apartment, 367 00:17:16,903 --> 00:17:19,873 investigators in Henrico County, Virginia 368 00:17:19,906 --> 00:17:22,175 are speaking to those closest to her. 369 00:17:22,575 --> 00:17:23,877 The question is, 370 00:17:23,910 --> 00:17:25,845 did this loving girlfriend, 371 00:17:25,879 --> 00:17:29,416 daughter and friend have any enemies? 372 00:17:29,916 --> 00:17:33,186 And what about her fiance, Kenny Lee, 373 00:17:33,219 --> 00:17:36,389 who claims he wasn't in town at the time of her death. 374 00:17:36,423 --> 00:17:39,225 Keiona's family isn't so sure. 375 00:17:41,061 --> 00:17:43,763 [Temeal] Keiona and Kenny, they loved each other, 376 00:17:43,797 --> 00:17:48,068 but, I just always felt something weird about him 377 00:17:48,068 --> 00:17:49,736 like he was hiding from something. 378 00:17:51,738 --> 00:17:52,572 Now, he got a baby on the way. 379 00:17:54,074 --> 00:17:55,542 Maybe he felt like that was his way out. 380 00:17:56,443 --> 00:17:58,912 He would not have another child to be responsible for, 381 00:17:58,945 --> 00:17:59,913 I don't know. 382 00:18:00,013 --> 00:18:02,882 [suspenseful music] 383 00:18:02,916 --> 00:18:05,352 - Keiona was three months pregnant. 384 00:18:05,385 --> 00:18:09,823 That added to really having to look at Kenny. 385 00:18:09,856 --> 00:18:15,095 [dramatic music] 386 00:18:15,128 --> 00:18:17,130 - Here's a shocking statistic, 387 00:18:17,163 --> 00:18:19,866 the number one cause of death in pregnant women 388 00:18:19,899 --> 00:18:21,034 is homicide. 389 00:18:21,034 --> 00:18:22,502 And not surprisingly, 390 00:18:22,535 --> 00:18:25,238 the killer is usually the father, 391 00:18:25,271 --> 00:18:26,740 but there's something else. 392 00:18:27,774 --> 00:18:30,577 [Charles] There was a shell casing found at the scene. 393 00:18:31,177 --> 00:18:35,248 Kenny Lee owned a handgun, 394 00:18:35,281 --> 00:18:38,485 but there was no handgun found at the scene. 395 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:42,422 It all just adds to the story 396 00:18:42,455 --> 00:18:43,823 of what we're looking into. 397 00:18:45,058 --> 00:18:46,626 [Faith] A few hours after investigators 398 00:18:46,659 --> 00:18:48,628 meet with Keiona's family, 399 00:18:48,661 --> 00:18:50,397 Kenny Lee finally shows up 400 00:18:50,430 --> 00:18:53,166 at the Henrico County Police Department. 401 00:18:54,067 --> 00:18:56,302 [Charles] We discussed where he was? 402 00:18:56,336 --> 00:19:00,373 He was a delivery driver for a cleaning service. 403 00:19:00,407 --> 00:19:02,242 The region that he worked in 404 00:19:02,275 --> 00:19:04,811 went all the way up to New Jersey. 405 00:19:05,679 --> 00:19:08,481 He had left on the 30th. 406 00:19:09,149 --> 00:19:10,684 - If we could confirm that 407 00:19:10,717 --> 00:19:12,185 what Kenny said he was doing 408 00:19:12,218 --> 00:19:14,821 was actually where he was, 409 00:19:14,854 --> 00:19:17,023 and there was no way that he had the opportunity 410 00:19:17,023 --> 00:19:19,025 to kill her, 411 00:19:19,025 --> 00:19:21,795 but at this point, I just don't know that. 412 00:19:23,029 --> 00:19:24,297 [Charles] Kenny explain to us 413 00:19:24,330 --> 00:19:27,267 about his relationship with Keiona. 414 00:19:27,300 --> 00:19:30,670 It sounded to me like they got along just fine. 415 00:19:31,671 --> 00:19:34,641 He did tell us that Keiona was pregnant, 416 00:19:34,674 --> 00:19:36,376 but there were no tears. 417 00:19:36,676 --> 00:19:38,178 He sort of was 418 00:19:38,211 --> 00:19:41,648 more in disbelief 419 00:19:41,681 --> 00:19:43,717 that Keiona was dead. 420 00:19:44,684 --> 00:19:47,687 When we spoke to Kenny, he had questions, 421 00:19:47,721 --> 00:19:48,388 about what happened, 422 00:19:48,421 --> 00:19:50,390 how it happened, and everything, 423 00:19:50,423 --> 00:19:52,359 which is something we look for. 424 00:19:52,392 --> 00:19:54,661 If somebody is a suspect 425 00:19:54,694 --> 00:19:57,197 and they aren't asking us questions about what happened, 426 00:19:57,230 --> 00:20:00,967 they start going up the, uh, the suspect list 427 00:20:01,001 --> 00:20:02,802 because clearly they might know. 428 00:20:04,504 --> 00:20:07,707 And we asked Kenny if he had a handgun 429 00:20:07,741 --> 00:20:10,543 and he explained that he did have a .380 430 00:20:10,577 --> 00:20:13,013 and he kept it in his bedroom 431 00:20:13,046 --> 00:20:15,215 where he and Keiona slept. 432 00:20:15,248 --> 00:20:18,385 The shell casing was a .380 also, so, it matched. 433 00:20:21,054 --> 00:20:25,058 That was a really big circumstantial 434 00:20:25,091 --> 00:20:26,726 piece of evidence. 435 00:20:29,095 --> 00:20:30,096 [Faith] Still, 436 00:20:30,130 --> 00:20:33,600 Kenny insists he doesn't know where the weapon is, 437 00:20:33,633 --> 00:20:36,569 and he's adamant he didn't kill Keiona. 438 00:20:37,837 --> 00:20:40,540 [Charles] Towards the end of our interview, 439 00:20:40,573 --> 00:20:45,512 we asked Kenny who he thought had issues with Keiona 440 00:20:45,545 --> 00:20:47,981 that they may want to kill Keiona. 441 00:20:48,581 --> 00:20:52,352 He said the mother of his daughter, Kayla Armstrong. 442 00:20:52,385 --> 00:20:55,455 [suspenseful music] 443 00:20:55,488 --> 00:20:58,825 Kenny had told us about a fight that occurred 444 00:20:58,858 --> 00:21:03,363 a few days prior to this murder at the apartment 445 00:21:03,396 --> 00:21:06,066 between Kayla and Keiona. 446 00:21:06,066 --> 00:21:08,535 [dramatic music] 447 00:21:08,568 --> 00:21:12,339 And he explained that he basically had to break them up. 448 00:21:12,372 --> 00:21:14,941 It was a real fight between the two 449 00:21:14,974 --> 00:21:17,777 because Kayla was jealous 450 00:21:17,811 --> 00:21:20,747 of Kenny and Keiona's relationship. 451 00:21:20,780 --> 00:21:24,117 [dramatic music] 452 00:21:24,150 --> 00:21:27,587 So, at this point, we needed to corroborate Kenny's story, 453 00:21:27,620 --> 00:21:31,324 but also, we needed to find out more about Kayla Armstrong. 454 00:21:31,891 --> 00:21:33,626 [Faith] But before they can find out more 455 00:21:33,660 --> 00:21:36,096 about either person of interest, 456 00:21:36,096 --> 00:21:38,598 Keiona's autopsy results come in 457 00:21:38,631 --> 00:21:42,769 painting a horrific picture of the last moments of her life. 458 00:21:44,304 --> 00:21:45,638 - Twelve blows to the head. 459 00:21:47,474 --> 00:21:49,976 Forty-three stab wounds to the abdomen... 460 00:21:52,012 --> 00:21:55,315 that struck Keiona and her fetus. 461 00:21:56,316 --> 00:21:58,952 Then gunshot to the abdomen. 462 00:22:01,187 --> 00:22:04,290 It's hard to understand, to wrap your mind around 463 00:22:04,324 --> 00:22:06,526 going through that type of assault. 464 00:22:07,861 --> 00:22:09,129 [shot blast] 465 00:22:09,429 --> 00:22:10,663 [Kevin] The cause of death in this case 466 00:22:10,697 --> 00:22:12,899 was the gunshot wound to the torso, 467 00:22:12,932 --> 00:22:16,736 and, of course, the 40-plus stab wounds. 468 00:22:16,770 --> 00:22:21,474 [dramatic music] 469 00:22:21,508 --> 00:22:24,477 Keiona Braxton was three months pregnant with a child. 470 00:22:25,178 --> 00:22:28,515 The fact that almost all the stab wounds are in the abdomen 471 00:22:28,548 --> 00:22:31,985 and she was shot in the abdomen, 472 00:22:32,085 --> 00:22:33,386 in my view, 473 00:22:33,420 --> 00:22:35,088 that's probably not a coincidence. 474 00:22:37,691 --> 00:22:40,727 - Is Keiona's murder connected to her pregnancy? 475 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,329 Who would stand to gain from her loss? 476 00:22:43,830 --> 00:22:46,733 And having just learned about an altercation 477 00:22:46,766 --> 00:22:50,170 between Keiona and Kayla, Kenny's ex-girlfriend, 478 00:22:50,203 --> 00:22:51,838 detectives have to wonder, 479 00:22:51,871 --> 00:22:54,207 was Keiona caught up in a love triangle 480 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:55,742 she couldn't escape? 481 00:22:57,143 --> 00:23:00,814 [Charles] I spoke to one of Keiona's cousins, Paulette, 482 00:23:00,847 --> 00:23:04,684 and she explained to us that there's been a feud 483 00:23:04,718 --> 00:23:09,089 between Kayla and Keiona for some time now. 484 00:23:11,057 --> 00:23:13,860 - When Kenny and Keiona started talking, 485 00:23:13,893 --> 00:23:16,162 Kenny had just got out of a relationship 486 00:23:16,196 --> 00:23:18,064 with Kayla Armstrong. 487 00:23:19,899 --> 00:23:22,535 He broke up with her, 488 00:23:22,569 --> 00:23:25,171 but when he was done, she wasn't done. 489 00:23:25,538 --> 00:23:29,075 Kayla just wouldn't take no for an answer. 490 00:23:29,075 --> 00:23:32,245 [dramatic music] 491 00:23:32,278 --> 00:23:35,882 Somehow, Kayla gets Keiona's phone number. 492 00:23:35,915 --> 00:23:37,617 [eerie music] 493 00:23:37,650 --> 00:23:40,620 Starts texting her dumb stuff, 494 00:23:40,653 --> 00:23:43,890 you know, Kenny still wants her, 495 00:23:43,923 --> 00:23:44,491 anything. 496 00:23:45,759 --> 00:23:48,161 Then tires start get the slash. 497 00:23:48,194 --> 00:23:51,531 [dramatic music] 498 00:23:51,564 --> 00:23:54,000 The family will say, "Keiona, this girl is crazy." 499 00:23:56,870 --> 00:23:58,738 - Keiona was really good with Michaela. 500 00:23:58,772 --> 00:24:01,741 Kayla was jealous of that. 501 00:24:02,308 --> 00:24:04,811 And Kayla was obsessed with Kenny. 502 00:24:05,478 --> 00:24:07,147 She just was nonstop. 503 00:24:07,180 --> 00:24:11,818 [dramatic music] 504 00:24:11,851 --> 00:24:14,921 It's not fair that 505 00:24:14,954 --> 00:24:17,290 people just can't move on 506 00:24:17,323 --> 00:24:19,426 and 507 00:24:19,459 --> 00:24:21,761 not be jealous or angry or upset 508 00:24:21,795 --> 00:24:23,563 because things doesn't work out for them. 509 00:24:25,365 --> 00:24:27,967 Why is it so easy for people to be evil? 510 00:24:28,635 --> 00:24:31,705 [Joyce] I know Kayla did it. 511 00:24:31,738 --> 00:24:35,108 I know who did it when I got the phone call, 512 00:24:35,141 --> 00:24:39,145 she was obsessed with Kenny 513 00:24:39,179 --> 00:24:43,183 and she wasn't gonna let him just have nobody else. 514 00:24:46,086 --> 00:24:48,188 [dramatic music] 515 00:24:48,221 --> 00:24:49,456 [Faith] And detectives soon learned 516 00:24:49,489 --> 00:24:53,293 that this wouldn't be the first time Kayla attacked Keiona, 517 00:24:53,326 --> 00:24:55,161 which is not surprising 518 00:24:55,195 --> 00:24:56,596 since behavior like this 519 00:24:56,629 --> 00:25:00,033 doesn't usually just fizzle out on its own, 520 00:25:00,033 --> 00:25:01,501 it escalates. 521 00:25:02,268 --> 00:25:03,770 [Charles] So, we did identify 522 00:25:03,803 --> 00:25:06,773 that there was a fight 18 months prior 523 00:25:06,806 --> 00:25:09,209 where Keiona had to get 22 stitches. 524 00:25:11,611 --> 00:25:13,813 - On May 7th, 2006, 525 00:25:13,847 --> 00:25:17,650 Kayla Armstrong was arrested and charged with felony assault 526 00:25:17,684 --> 00:25:20,153 for stabbing Keiona Braxton in the head, 527 00:25:20,186 --> 00:25:22,055 and she served four months. 528 00:25:22,389 --> 00:25:24,657 - When Kayla stabbed Keiona, that scared her, 529 00:25:24,691 --> 00:25:26,059 that kind of woke her up. 530 00:25:26,693 --> 00:25:28,361 I believe him and Keiona did fight a lot 531 00:25:28,395 --> 00:25:33,133 about the way Kayla was doing things, but she loved Kenny, 532 00:25:33,166 --> 00:25:35,635 and, you know, they was working on their relationship. 533 00:25:36,870 --> 00:25:39,205 - When you can't interfere in no one's relationship, 534 00:25:39,239 --> 00:25:41,541 they're gonna tell you what they want you to know. 535 00:25:44,144 --> 00:25:48,882 [Charles] Kayla just continued to go after Keiona. 536 00:25:50,383 --> 00:25:53,653 In early November, 2007, 537 00:25:53,687 --> 00:25:56,189 Keiona made another police report 538 00:25:56,222 --> 00:25:59,926 this time regarding threatening phone calls 539 00:26:00,026 --> 00:26:05,031 where Kayla alluded to adding more stitches in her head. 540 00:26:06,900 --> 00:26:09,936 [Temeal] My sister would go to court for restraining order 541 00:26:10,036 --> 00:26:11,805 and she would tell the judge, 542 00:26:11,838 --> 00:26:14,240 "This girl is trying to kill me. 543 00:26:14,708 --> 00:26:17,243 Kayla is trying to kill me. 544 00:26:17,844 --> 00:26:19,713 She is going to kill me." 545 00:26:19,746 --> 00:26:22,082 [ominous music] 546 00:26:27,953 --> 00:26:29,788 [F 547 00:26:29,822 --> 00:26:31,290 of Keiona Braxton, 548 00:26:31,323 --> 00:26:34,860 detectives have uncovered a volatile relationship 549 00:26:34,893 --> 00:26:38,397 between Keiona and her fiance's ex-girlfriend, 550 00:26:38,430 --> 00:26:40,366 Kayla Armstrong. 551 00:26:40,399 --> 00:26:41,834 I've seen it before, 552 00:26:41,867 --> 00:26:43,402 when it comes to exes, 553 00:26:43,435 --> 00:26:44,937 things can get heated, 554 00:26:44,970 --> 00:26:47,406 especially when children are involved, 555 00:26:47,439 --> 00:26:51,610 and especially when boundaries aren't clearly defined. 556 00:26:51,643 --> 00:26:53,779 So, were there boundaries? 557 00:26:53,812 --> 00:26:56,181 Where does Kenny fit into all of this? 558 00:26:56,849 --> 00:27:00,486 - I think Kenny could have went to the police with Keiona 559 00:27:00,519 --> 00:27:02,354 and filed those reports. 560 00:27:02,388 --> 00:27:05,057 Kenny could have been a witness. 561 00:27:05,758 --> 00:27:08,494 Both of them could have did a lot of things 562 00:27:08,527 --> 00:27:10,029 except ignoring it. 563 00:27:10,362 --> 00:27:13,932 - We all know ignoring a problem rarely makes it go away, 564 00:27:14,033 --> 00:27:17,069 and Kayla once again went on the attack. 565 00:27:17,102 --> 00:27:20,506 [dramatic music] 566 00:27:20,539 --> 00:27:23,042 - Three days before New Year's Eve, 567 00:27:23,042 --> 00:27:27,880 Kayla's mom knocked on Keiona's door 568 00:27:27,913 --> 00:27:29,848 to pick up the baby. 569 00:27:30,549 --> 00:27:32,317 Kayla is supposed to sit in the car. 570 00:27:33,085 --> 00:27:36,355 Kayla was not allowed to come to Keiona's house 571 00:27:36,388 --> 00:27:39,391 because of the fight where Kayla stabbed her. 572 00:27:40,859 --> 00:27:44,530 But Kayla busts in the door. 573 00:27:44,563 --> 00:27:45,864 Keiona gets up off the couch and say, 574 00:27:45,898 --> 00:27:47,900 "What are you doing in my house?" 575 00:27:48,834 --> 00:27:50,936 And they get into a fight. 576 00:27:52,705 --> 00:27:54,340 She had a knot on her head. 577 00:27:56,208 --> 00:27:57,109 - On December 27th, 578 00:27:57,142 --> 00:27:59,545 three days before my sister was murdered. 579 00:27:59,578 --> 00:28:01,680 I believe that's when Kayla found out 580 00:28:01,714 --> 00:28:03,148 that Keiona was pregnant. 581 00:28:03,182 --> 00:28:06,018 I think that's what pushed Kayla over the edge. 582 00:28:06,418 --> 00:28:07,753 - At this point, 583 00:28:07,786 --> 00:28:09,855 Keiona goes and takes out a protective order 584 00:28:09,888 --> 00:28:11,090 against Kayla Armstrong. 585 00:28:12,591 --> 00:28:14,526 [Charles] Because there was that altercation 586 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:16,295 the Saturday before the murder, 587 00:28:16,328 --> 00:28:20,599 we can use that information from Kenny Lee, 588 00:28:20,632 --> 00:28:22,701 who was a witness, 589 00:28:22,735 --> 00:28:25,771 to get warrants on Kayla Armstrong. 590 00:28:27,206 --> 00:28:31,577 If she is stopped for whatever reason, 591 00:28:31,610 --> 00:28:34,246 they will detain her. 592 00:28:34,279 --> 00:28:39,251 And then we notified all of the Richmond metropolitan area 593 00:28:39,284 --> 00:28:42,154 law enforcement agencies be on the lookout. 594 00:28:43,055 --> 00:28:45,958 [Andrew] We were out checking addresses. 595 00:28:46,825 --> 00:28:48,460 We were not able to find her. 596 00:28:50,462 --> 00:28:52,965 - While we were trying to get in contact with Kayla, 597 00:28:53,065 --> 00:28:55,834 we were checking Kenny's alibi. 598 00:28:56,935 --> 00:28:58,871 We were able to corroborate Kenny's story 599 00:28:58,904 --> 00:29:01,340 and with his employer 600 00:29:01,373 --> 00:29:05,244 of him being assigned the specific route. 601 00:29:06,345 --> 00:29:10,349 We also did receive the hotel receipts that he used. 602 00:29:11,316 --> 00:29:14,319 So, all of that corroborate his story. 603 00:29:15,020 --> 00:29:17,456 [Faith] Kenny's alibi is checking out, 604 00:29:17,489 --> 00:29:19,024 but can they trust him? 605 00:29:19,024 --> 00:29:21,360 Does he know more than he's letting on? 606 00:29:21,827 --> 00:29:25,397 - Is it possible Kenny and Kayla 607 00:29:25,431 --> 00:29:28,167 conspired to kill Keiona 608 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:31,537 because Kenny didn't want to have another child? 609 00:29:32,171 --> 00:29:35,341 So, we requested his cell phone records. 610 00:29:35,674 --> 00:29:37,042 - Let's look at the texts, 611 00:29:37,042 --> 00:29:39,044 did he have something to do with this case? 612 00:29:41,613 --> 00:29:44,249 [Faith] While investigators wait for the phone records, 613 00:29:44,283 --> 00:29:48,354 they also try to tighten the net around Kenny's ex, Kayla. 614 00:29:48,387 --> 00:29:51,857 [dramatic music] 615 00:29:51,890 --> 00:29:53,058 - And we worked 616 00:29:53,092 --> 00:29:56,562 trying to locate Kayla Armstrong 617 00:29:56,595 --> 00:29:58,364 through the weekend. 618 00:29:59,365 --> 00:30:01,533 [Andrew] We had gotten a tip that she was hiding 619 00:30:01,567 --> 00:30:04,703 at a storage facility 620 00:30:04,737 --> 00:30:08,340 in the residence of the full-time manager 621 00:30:08,374 --> 00:30:09,975 that lived on site. 622 00:30:10,709 --> 00:30:13,312 - Officer shows up, 623 00:30:13,345 --> 00:30:15,214 Kayla is hiding underneath the desk. 624 00:30:16,715 --> 00:30:18,350 [Andrew] They arrested her, 625 00:30:18,384 --> 00:30:20,819 and Kayla was brought to the police station 626 00:30:20,853 --> 00:30:23,689 in Henrico County where she waived her rights 627 00:30:23,722 --> 00:30:25,057 and we interviewed her. 628 00:30:31,630 --> 00:30:33,032 [Charles] She explained to us that 629 00:30:33,065 --> 00:30:35,334 she still has a relationship with Kenny, 630 00:30:35,367 --> 00:30:38,737 that she is the mother of Kenny's daughter, 631 00:30:38,771 --> 00:30:40,272 Michaela. 632 00:30:40,305 --> 00:30:43,242 Their relationship is based upon Michaela. 633 00:31:08,467 --> 00:31:10,869 She explained that she and Keiona got in a fight, 634 00:31:10,903 --> 00:31:12,538 but it was mutual combat. 635 00:31:20,546 --> 00:31:22,748 - And then when we talked about the homicide, 636 00:31:22,781 --> 00:31:24,983 she said she, she wasn't involved. 637 00:31:40,132 --> 00:31:42,668 - The weirdest thing about the interview 638 00:31:42,701 --> 00:31:48,440 was that as we started talking about the murder, 639 00:31:48,474 --> 00:31:49,108 she started 640 00:31:49,108 --> 00:31:51,143 not burping, but belching, 641 00:31:52,378 --> 00:31:53,445 over and over. 642 00:32:04,623 --> 00:32:06,658 - She came up with the idea of 643 00:32:06,692 --> 00:32:09,061 making sure Kenny wouldn't testify. 644 00:32:09,695 --> 00:32:14,166 Kayla actually asked if Kenny was home that night. 645 00:32:14,500 --> 00:32:16,402 - Kayla is so slick. 646 00:32:16,435 --> 00:32:19,805 It seems like she's always one step ahead, 647 00:32:19,838 --> 00:32:21,240 but not really. 648 00:32:28,915 --> 00:32:30,684 [mysterious music] 649 00:32:30,717 --> 00:32:33,887 - Six days after the murder of Keiona Braxton, 650 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:35,755 detectives finally get their chance 651 00:32:35,789 --> 00:32:37,891 to speak to the one person 652 00:32:37,924 --> 00:32:40,760 with a history of violence against Keiona, 653 00:32:40,794 --> 00:32:42,095 Kayla Armstrong. 654 00:32:42,796 --> 00:32:46,633 The investigators hope she'll crack, instead, 655 00:32:46,666 --> 00:32:47,701 she burps. 656 00:32:53,173 --> 00:32:55,475 - My partner, who's a little more 657 00:32:55,508 --> 00:32:56,509 blunt than I am, 658 00:32:56,543 --> 00:32:58,611 he said, "What's wrong with you?" 659 00:33:01,381 --> 00:33:03,216 - I believe that the more people talk, 660 00:33:03,249 --> 00:33:06,186 the more that they'll say something, 661 00:33:06,219 --> 00:33:09,723 but she didn't give us anything that we could use. 662 00:33:10,323 --> 00:33:11,658 - After the interview was completed, 663 00:33:11,691 --> 00:33:14,461 Kayla was taken over to Henrico County jail 664 00:33:14,494 --> 00:33:16,096 and served with her misdemeanor warrants 665 00:33:16,129 --> 00:33:17,430 on the protective order 666 00:33:17,464 --> 00:33:19,399 for the assault days before the murder. 667 00:33:19,833 --> 00:33:22,435 [Charles] We subpoenaed her phone records also. 668 00:33:22,469 --> 00:33:25,071 Phone records can tell you a awful lot 669 00:33:25,105 --> 00:33:27,640 about who the person is. 670 00:33:28,475 --> 00:33:31,611 [Faith] As police continue investigating Kayla and Kenny, 671 00:33:31,644 --> 00:33:35,448 on January 8th, nine days after she was murdered, 672 00:33:35,482 --> 00:33:38,852 Keiona Braxton is laid to rest. 673 00:33:40,186 --> 00:33:41,287 - The day we buried my sister 674 00:33:41,321 --> 00:33:43,356 was the hardest day of my life. 675 00:33:45,792 --> 00:33:48,094 [Joyce] It was just so much, 676 00:33:48,128 --> 00:33:50,330 my daughter gone. 677 00:33:53,533 --> 00:33:56,202 I know the little baby was in her stomach... 678 00:33:56,236 --> 00:33:59,105 that just took, took my heart away. 679 00:33:59,139 --> 00:34:04,110 [somber music] 680 00:34:04,144 --> 00:34:05,679 - That was pretty bad. 681 00:34:06,813 --> 00:34:08,815 - Kenny came to the funeral. 682 00:34:10,050 --> 00:34:12,619 He didn't say too much to us. 683 00:34:13,386 --> 00:34:16,523 - He was like way in the back with his head down. 684 00:34:18,925 --> 00:34:21,327 [Faith] Keiona's family still harbors concerns 685 00:34:21,361 --> 00:34:24,698 that Kenny might be involved with Keiona's death, 686 00:34:24,731 --> 00:34:28,468 but a new development shows that it's just not possible. 687 00:34:29,803 --> 00:34:31,638 [Charles] We received the cell records 688 00:34:31,671 --> 00:34:32,906 from Kenny's phone 689 00:34:32,939 --> 00:34:38,278 and he was utilizing cell towers in the Philadelphia area 690 00:34:38,311 --> 00:34:40,613 at the time of the homicide. 691 00:34:41,448 --> 00:34:43,083 So, everything lined up. 692 00:34:43,083 --> 00:34:46,086 Kenny was telling us the truth. 693 00:34:47,087 --> 00:34:52,225 If Kenny and Kayla still were sexually involved, 694 00:34:52,258 --> 00:34:55,829 I don't have any proof whatsoever that they were. 695 00:34:55,862 --> 00:35:00,033 Without the gun, we couldn't say it was Kenny's gun 696 00:35:00,066 --> 00:35:01,768 'cause we never found the gun. 697 00:35:02,235 --> 00:35:04,637 [Andrew] But he was not a viable suspect 698 00:35:04,671 --> 00:35:06,172 for this murder. 699 00:35:06,539 --> 00:35:09,542 [Faith] With Kenny removed from the suspect list, 700 00:35:09,576 --> 00:35:13,313 investigators are now fully focused on building a solid case 701 00:35:13,346 --> 00:35:15,081 against Kayla Armstrong. 702 00:35:15,615 --> 00:35:19,052 - There was no DNA that matched Kayla's. 703 00:35:19,352 --> 00:35:22,589 There was no DNA that matched anyone at the scene 704 00:35:22,622 --> 00:35:26,726 other than Keiona and Kenny because they both lived there. 705 00:35:27,394 --> 00:35:28,862 - I would've thought that 706 00:35:28,895 --> 00:35:30,630 a personal up close homicide 707 00:35:30,663 --> 00:35:32,565 where you're stabbing somebody, 708 00:35:32,599 --> 00:35:35,802 you would cut yourself and leave some of your blood, 709 00:35:35,835 --> 00:35:39,506 you would step in some blood and leave a footprint, 710 00:35:39,539 --> 00:35:42,676 you would think there was DNA and there was none. 711 00:35:45,512 --> 00:35:46,546 [Charles] However, 712 00:35:46,579 --> 00:35:47,914 there was something else. 713 00:35:49,749 --> 00:35:52,218 Kayla Armstrong made multiple calls 714 00:35:52,252 --> 00:35:54,721 the evening before the murder 715 00:35:54,754 --> 00:35:58,758 to Kenny and Keiona Braxton's next door neighbors. 716 00:36:00,827 --> 00:36:04,264 Kayla actually asked if Kenny was home... 717 00:36:04,297 --> 00:36:06,199 [mysterious music] 718 00:36:06,232 --> 00:36:07,500 that night. 719 00:36:09,402 --> 00:36:10,337 Those are all things that 720 00:36:10,370 --> 00:36:13,940 add into the circumstantial evidence bucket. 721 00:36:14,641 --> 00:36:18,111 [Faith] But investigators hit a snag in June of 2009, 722 00:36:18,144 --> 00:36:21,047 six months after Keiona was murdered. 723 00:36:21,381 --> 00:36:22,749 [Charles] During this whole time 724 00:36:22,782 --> 00:36:24,884 while she was in jail for the assault 725 00:36:24,918 --> 00:36:26,553 that happened on the 27th, 726 00:36:26,586 --> 00:36:30,090 I sat in court for the trial, 727 00:36:30,123 --> 00:36:32,325 the judge who listened to the case 728 00:36:32,359 --> 00:36:35,395 couldn't ascertain who was the aggressor. 729 00:36:36,296 --> 00:36:38,064 So, the charges 730 00:36:38,064 --> 00:36:39,099 were dismissed. 731 00:36:40,867 --> 00:36:43,603 It was a blow to the investigation. 732 00:36:43,636 --> 00:36:46,606 So, once she got out, 733 00:36:46,639 --> 00:36:49,542 it, it was just tougher to deal with a lot of the witnesses 734 00:36:49,576 --> 00:36:51,578 or a lot of the people that we were talking to. 735 00:36:53,580 --> 00:36:56,616 - The investigation went from months to years. 736 00:36:57,550 --> 00:37:01,521 [Joyce] As time went on, I've been angry, 737 00:37:01,554 --> 00:37:03,523 I've been hurting, 738 00:37:03,556 --> 00:37:07,894 and I just always just keep my daughter on my mind. 739 00:37:08,395 --> 00:37:11,364 I got a big picture on my wall. 740 00:37:11,865 --> 00:37:15,568 Every time I look at it, I'll tell her I love her. 741 00:37:17,237 --> 00:37:18,738 [Temeal] It was so wrong. 742 00:37:18,772 --> 00:37:22,742 Everybody knew that Kayla did this 743 00:37:22,776 --> 00:37:25,145 and the family is devastated. 744 00:37:26,946 --> 00:37:30,183 [Joyce] I just trust in God and believe in God 745 00:37:30,216 --> 00:37:33,753 and God just brought me through it. 746 00:37:36,156 --> 00:37:38,324 - Faith is a powerful thing. 747 00:37:38,358 --> 00:37:40,060 And Joyce had faith 748 00:37:40,060 --> 00:37:42,929 that she would get justice for her daughter, Keiona. 749 00:37:43,463 --> 00:37:45,398 That along with the investigator's 750 00:37:45,432 --> 00:37:47,934 neverending pursuit of justice 751 00:37:47,967 --> 00:37:49,369 finally pays off. 752 00:37:49,402 --> 00:37:53,606 [suspenseful music] 753 00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:56,476 - It took three years for the prosecutors 754 00:37:56,509 --> 00:37:59,312 to feel comfortable with prosecuting the case. 755 00:37:59,579 --> 00:38:01,681 And I think a lot of that occurred 756 00:38:01,715 --> 00:38:05,051 because the family also said, 757 00:38:05,085 --> 00:38:07,520 "Hey, we know Kayla did this." 758 00:38:07,554 --> 00:38:10,223 [dramatic music] 759 00:38:10,256 --> 00:38:12,425 Our Commonwealth attorney had changed. 760 00:38:12,459 --> 00:38:14,894 We had a new prosecutor. 761 00:38:14,928 --> 00:38:17,697 We get the indictments for the murder 762 00:38:17,731 --> 00:38:19,099 and then we try to find her. 763 00:38:19,132 --> 00:38:21,835 [suspenseful music] 764 00:38:21,868 --> 00:38:24,437 To this day, I have no idea how Kayla knew 765 00:38:24,471 --> 00:38:26,840 that indictments were coming. 766 00:38:27,540 --> 00:38:29,509 She basically fled. 767 00:38:32,212 --> 00:38:33,646 [Paulette] Kayla is so slick, 768 00:38:33,680 --> 00:38:37,951 it seems like she's always one step ahead, 769 00:38:38,051 --> 00:38:39,119 but not really. 770 00:38:47,426 --> 00:38:50,095 [dramatic music] 771 00:38:50,129 --> 00:38:54,600 - On October 19th, 2011, almost three years 772 00:38:54,633 --> 00:38:58,871 after the savage murder of 26-year-old Keiona Braxton, 773 00:38:58,904 --> 00:39:03,275 detectives bring homicide charges against Kayla Armstrong. 774 00:39:03,308 --> 00:39:05,110 But with Kayla on the lamb, 775 00:39:05,144 --> 00:39:09,214 Henrico County calls the US Marshal's fugitive task force 776 00:39:09,248 --> 00:39:10,883 for assistance. 777 00:39:10,916 --> 00:39:12,651 Three months into the search, 778 00:39:12,685 --> 00:39:15,421 there's still no sign of Kayla 779 00:39:15,454 --> 00:39:17,289 until they get a tip. 780 00:39:19,291 --> 00:39:22,594 - On January 20th of 2012, 781 00:39:22,628 --> 00:39:24,797 the task force conducted an extensive surveillance 782 00:39:24,830 --> 00:39:28,267 on a residence that we believe Kayla to be hiding out in. 783 00:39:28,767 --> 00:39:30,736 I gathered up the team. 784 00:39:31,870 --> 00:39:34,707 We hit the house, surrounded it. 785 00:39:36,041 --> 00:39:38,243 I was greeted at the door by a male. 786 00:39:38,677 --> 00:39:41,613 He then gave consent to search the residence. 787 00:39:42,581 --> 00:39:44,750 Coming down the stairs was a closed closet. 788 00:39:44,783 --> 00:39:46,285 I had someone else open the door 789 00:39:46,318 --> 00:39:48,120 and I'm coming in like this. 790 00:39:48,721 --> 00:39:52,324 I put my arm, threw some clothes hanging up, 791 00:39:52,358 --> 00:39:53,659 immediately grabbed an arm. 792 00:39:54,660 --> 00:39:57,062 This woman most likely stabbed someone to death 793 00:39:57,062 --> 00:39:58,897 and used a gun that hasn't been recovered, 794 00:39:58,931 --> 00:40:01,734 so, just pulling her out of the closet, 795 00:40:01,767 --> 00:40:03,936 we don't know what she's gonna pop out in. 796 00:40:03,969 --> 00:40:05,704 Fortunately, she wasn't armed. 797 00:40:07,639 --> 00:40:11,110 - We felt relieved, 798 00:40:11,143 --> 00:40:14,146 but she did not want to talk this time. 799 00:40:15,214 --> 00:40:18,350 [Paulette] When Kayla was caught, we were happy, 800 00:40:18,384 --> 00:40:20,686 but it wasn't over. 801 00:40:21,820 --> 00:40:23,789 [Charles] So, the defense attorney gets a list 802 00:40:23,822 --> 00:40:27,760 of the witnesses that the prosecutors plan to call, 803 00:40:27,793 --> 00:40:31,964 and Kenny was one of our main witnesses. 804 00:40:33,666 --> 00:40:38,203 The one person who she's always obsessed after 805 00:40:38,237 --> 00:40:42,675 now was going to actually testify against her 806 00:40:42,708 --> 00:40:46,278 for murdering his girlfriend 807 00:40:46,311 --> 00:40:49,081 and his unborn child. 808 00:40:50,382 --> 00:40:54,019 So, she came up with the idea of 809 00:40:54,053 --> 00:40:56,889 making sure Kenny wouldn't testify. 810 00:40:58,924 --> 00:41:00,526 [Andrew] She struck up a conversation 811 00:41:00,559 --> 00:41:02,928 with somebody that was in jail with her, 812 00:41:02,961 --> 00:41:04,797 and Kayla advised this person 813 00:41:04,830 --> 00:41:07,800 that she wanted to find somebody to kill Kenny. 814 00:41:08,967 --> 00:41:10,336 The happened to be an informant 815 00:41:10,369 --> 00:41:12,171 for the Henrico County Police. 816 00:41:12,204 --> 00:41:16,375 - Which became enough for prosecutors 817 00:41:16,408 --> 00:41:20,079 to charge her with the attempted murder of a witness. 818 00:41:20,846 --> 00:41:22,981 - Kayla Armstrong stood before a judge today, 819 00:41:23,082 --> 00:41:25,417 and she waived her right to a speedy trial. 820 00:41:26,585 --> 00:41:29,355 [Charles] This was a frustrating case. 821 00:41:29,388 --> 00:41:30,956 There really was no smoking gun. 822 00:41:30,989 --> 00:41:34,426 So, I think the prosecutors said 823 00:41:34,460 --> 00:41:35,928 probably the best that we can get 824 00:41:35,961 --> 00:41:37,796 with the evidence that we have, 825 00:41:37,830 --> 00:41:39,798 which is a plea agreement. 826 00:41:40,632 --> 00:41:42,434 [Andrew] She pled to an Alford plea. 827 00:41:42,468 --> 00:41:44,603 What she's saying is that the court has enough evidence 828 00:41:44,636 --> 00:41:46,705 to prove that she did it, 829 00:41:46,739 --> 00:41:48,440 but she's not gonna say that she did it. 830 00:41:49,408 --> 00:41:52,678 [Charles] Kayla was sentenced to 10 years 831 00:41:52,711 --> 00:41:56,015 for the voluntary manslaughter of Keiona Braxton 832 00:41:56,115 --> 00:41:59,952 and 20 years for the murder for hire plot, 833 00:42:00,052 --> 00:42:03,422 so, altogether she received 30 years. 834 00:42:04,056 --> 00:42:06,658 Ten years isn't even close 835 00:42:06,692 --> 00:42:08,761 to a fair sentence 836 00:42:08,794 --> 00:42:10,662 for killing Keiona Braxton. 837 00:42:10,696 --> 00:42:15,334 [gentle music] 838 00:42:15,367 --> 00:42:17,469 - Even with Kayla behind bars, 839 00:42:17,503 --> 00:42:19,905 the verdict is a bitter pill to swallow 840 00:42:19,938 --> 00:42:22,174 for all those who loved Keiona 841 00:42:22,207 --> 00:42:24,910 and were excited to welcome her unborn child 842 00:42:24,943 --> 00:42:28,247 into this world, including Kenny. 843 00:42:29,148 --> 00:42:31,850 [Paulette] I've talked to Kenny recently. 844 00:42:31,884 --> 00:42:34,753 He said how much he loved Keiona saying, 845 00:42:34,787 --> 00:42:37,122 you know, "I'm just so sorry." 846 00:42:37,856 --> 00:42:39,725 Kenny is raising Michaela 847 00:42:39,758 --> 00:42:43,095 and he has a wonderful life going on. 848 00:42:44,430 --> 00:42:46,999 Keiona loved Michaela, 849 00:42:47,099 --> 00:42:49,802 and Michaela is thriving. 850 00:42:51,437 --> 00:42:54,540 [Temeal] Keiona was 851 00:42:54,573 --> 00:42:55,841 everything. 852 00:42:56,875 --> 00:42:58,444 When she was taken away, 853 00:42:58,477 --> 00:43:00,946 this world lost a good one. 854 00:43:03,048 --> 00:43:05,317 - I feel she's still with me. 855 00:43:06,151 --> 00:43:10,956 She know I ain't forgot about her, 856 00:43:11,056 --> 00:43:12,558 and I never will. 857 00:43:13,559 --> 00:43:16,095 I'll meet her someday. 858 00:43:16,128 --> 00:43:20,332 [somber music] 859 00:43:20,366 --> 00:43:23,068 - They say, not only do you date the person you are with, 860 00:43:23,102 --> 00:43:26,105 but also everyone they've ever dated. 861 00:43:26,138 --> 00:43:30,175 And Kayla Armstrong's refusal to let go of Kenny Lee 862 00:43:30,209 --> 00:43:32,978 resulted in the death of Keiona Braxton, 863 00:43:33,078 --> 00:43:37,249 a vibrant, beloved young woman and her unborn baby. 864 00:43:37,583 --> 00:43:40,719 It's a tragic reminder that sometimes 865 00:43:40,753 --> 00:43:42,354 the killer relationship 866 00:43:42,388 --> 00:43:45,991 is the one that ended a long time ago.