On September 2, 2014, a violent home invasion shattered the peace of a quiet cul-de-sac in Kansas City, Missouri, ultimately claiming the life of 86-year-old female Anna Mae Selle Taylor. She and her husband, George Taylor, were inside their residence when an intruder broke in, savagely attacking the elderly couple in the basement of their home. Anna Mae, who was known to friends and family as Ann, managed to place a desperate 911 call during the ordeal, alerting authorities to the presence of
a man with a shotgun. Despite surviving the initial assault, both Anna Mae and her husband suffered severe injuries and were hospitalized in critical condition. They fought for their lives for a week before passing away on September 9, 2014, just hours apart from one another.
The assailant, identified as Brandon Howell, did not stop with the attack on the Taylors. After beating the couple, he stole their SUV and fled the scene. As he attempted to escape the neighborhood, he encountered several neighbors who had stepped out to investigate the commotion. In a senseless act of violence, Howell fatally shot three other individuals: Susan Choucroun, Lorene Hurst, and her son, Darrel Hurst. The rampage left five people dead and a community in shock. Police launched an immediate manhunt for the suspect, who was considered armed and dangerous.
Law enforcement officers located and arrested Brandon Howell later that same day. He was found walking along Interstate 29 in the Northland area of Kansas City, carrying a loaded shotgun in his pant leg. Investigators linked him to the crime scene through witness testimony and physical evidence, including the stolen vehicle which was recovered nearby. Howell, a convicted felon with a history of violence, was initially charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, burglary, and stealing.
The legal proceedings against Howell concluded in April 2019, nearly five years after the tragic events. A Jackson County jury found him guilty on all counts, including five charges of first-degree murder for the deaths of Anna Mae Selle Taylor, her husband, and their three neighbors. Following the conviction, a judge sentenced Howell to five consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would spend the remainder of his life in prison. The sentencing brought a measure of closure to the grieving families who had waited years for justice.
