In the quiet, rural community of Braymer, Missouri, the late summer of 2026 was shattered by a tragic event that claimed the lives of two of its residents. On the evening of Thursday, August 27, 2026, emergency services were dispatched to a residence on Route D following a 911 call. Upon their arrival, they discovered the bodies of 36-year-old Steven Stoll and his life partner, 43-year-old Jason Kelly. Both men were found inside their home, having suffered apparent gunshot wounds, and investigators recovered multiple spent rifle casings at the scene. The news of this double homicide sent shockwaves through the small town, leaving friends and family to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of two beloved members of their community.
The investigation into the deaths of Steven Stoll and Jason Kelly quickly focused on a person of interest, Kegan Keith Kelly. Family members informed law enforcement that Kegan Kelly had recently made violent threats against one of the victims, who was identified as his brother. It was also revealed that a protective order had been sought against Kegan due to these threats. Acting on this information, law enforcement located and took Kegan Kelly into custody. During a search of his residence, authorities discovered a rifle of the same caliber as the shell casings found at the crime scene. Following his arrest, Kegan Kelly was charged with two felony counts of first-degree murder.
During an interview with investigators, Kegan Kelly admitted to going to the victims' residence armed with the rifle. He reportedly claimed to have been influenced by voices and frightened by white orbs at the time of the incident. In the weeks following his arrest, Kegan Kelly made a court appearance where a judge ordered him to undergo a mental evaluation. He was subsequently transferred to a different facility to facilitate this evaluation, with his next court appearance scheduled for December 16, 2026. The case against him is pending, and as of late September 2026, there have been no trial, conviction, or sentencing. The community of Braymer, along with the families of Steven Stoll and Jason Kelly, await the progression of the legal proceedings, hoping for justice and closure in a case that has left an indelible mark of sorrow on their small, rural town.
