On a December evening in Easley, South Carolina, a convenience store clerk's life was tragically cut short in a violent confrontation. Stacey Regina Branham, a 49-year-old female, was working at B Pam's Food Mart on December 14, 2018, when two masked men entered in an attempted robbery. What ensued was a shootout between Branham and the assailants. She was struck by a single gunshot and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators noted that despite the exchange of gunfire, it did not appear that anything was ultimately taken from the store.
The Easley Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the homicide. Surveillance footage from the store captured images of the two suspects, one wearing an orange ski mask and the other a black- hooded sweatshirt with a white cloth mask. The authorities released the footage to the public in an effort to identify the individuals responsible for Branham's death. The community mourned the loss of the beloved clerk, remembering her as a grandmother who was eagerly awaiting the arrival of another grandchild.
In February 2019, a significant breakthrough in the case was announced. The Easley Police Department arrested two Greenville County men, 19-year-old TyChristian Ladson and 28-year-old Quinton Maurice Collins. Both men were charged with murder and attempted robbery with a deadly weapon in connection with the death of Stacey Branham. The arrests brought a sense of relief to the community and the victim's family, who had been waiting for justice.
After their arrests, Ladson and Collins were held in custody as the legal process moved forward. In February 2023, the two men stood trial for the murder of Stacey Branham. Following a four-day trial, a jury found both TyChristian Ladson and Quinton Maurice Collins guilty of murder and attempted armed robbery. Subsequently, both men were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the fatal shooting, bringing a final resolution to the case more than four years after the tragic event.
