In the quiet town of Zachary, Louisiana, a profound tragedy unfolded, leaving a family shattered and a community in shock. Beverly Jean Watts, a 48-year-old woman from Lafayette, found her life abruptly and violently ended on April 8, 2020. She, along with her twin sister, Deborah Watts Ross, fell victim to a senseless act of violence that stemmed from a place of deep grief.
Just the day before this horrific incident, the twins' mother, Reba Brinson Brannon, had passed away.
Her 77-year-old husband, James Brannon, was apparently overwhelmed by his loss. In a tragic turn of events, Brannon would become the perpetrator of a grim murder-suicide. It was at his home on Martin Drive where the unthinkable occurred. He shot and killed both of his late wife's daughters, Beverly and Deborah, before turning the gun on himself.
The Zachary Police Department was confronted with a sorrowful scene. Their investigation led them to believe that the immense grief from his wife's passing may have been the catalyst for Brannon's violent actions. The community was left to mourn the loss of the twin sisters, who were born in Baton Rouge and shared a close bond throughout their lives. The investigation concluded with the determination of a murder-suicide, and with the perpetrator deceased, no arrests were made.
