In November 2016, 21-year-old African American Brandon Herring vanished from his home in Raytown, Missouri. A young father-to-be known affectionately as 'Mac Bear' to his family, he had been eagerly anticipating the birth of his son, having already prepared a nursery and chosen a name. On November 22, he left his residence with acquaintances under the impression that they were going to look for a new car he intended to purchase.
He never returned, missing Thanksgiving and the subsequent holiday season, which prompted his mother to launch a desperate search and public appeal for his safe return.
Two months later, in January 2017, the search for Brandon came to a tragic conclusion due to a coincidental discovery by another grieving family. The father of Jessica Runions, a young woman who had gone missing in an unrelated high-profile case, was scouring a wooded area near Swope Park in Kansas City for his daughter. In a creek bed near East 67th Terrace and Lewis Avenue, searchers discovered human remains covered in debris. Authorities confirmed the body was that of Brandon Herring.
Autopsy results revealed that Brandon had been shot in the head, and his death was ruled a homicide. Investigators determined that he had likely been killed shortly after his disappearance. Despite the recovery of his remains and the identification of the individuals he was last seen with, the case faced significant hurdles. His mother has publicly stated her belief that the people he left with that day betrayed him, robbing and killing him before disposing of his body in the ravine.
As of the most recent available reports, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been formally charged specifically for the murder of Brandon Herring. The case remains open and unsolved. His mother, Rhonda Herring, has since become a vocal advocate against gun violence in the Kansas City area, founding a nonprofit in her son's memory and working with organizations to support other families of homicide victims, while continuing to press law enforcement for justice in her son's case.
