In a quiet corner of West Blocton, Alabama, a story of a young family unfolded into a devastating tragedy. Kelse Ely Kendrick, a 24-year-old female, found her life cut short on the evening of Thursday, July 18, 2024. Born on June 21, 2000, in Bessemer, Alabama, Kelse was a devoted stay-at-home mother to her son, Kaleb, and daughter, Kynli. She was known by loved ones as a caring individual with a contagious and wonderful laugh who always put her family first.
That Thursday, the family had gathered for a pool party to celebrate the upcoming ninth birthday of Kelse's nephew, Colton Daniels. Following the celebration, Kelse and her two children, along with her niece and nephew, Haley and Colton Daniels, returned to the garage apartment they shared on her husband's grandparents' property on Greentree Drive. It was in this familiar setting that the joyous atmosphere of a family gathering took a dark and irreversible turn.
Later that evening, a 911 call was made reporting that a child had been shot. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they discovered a horrific sight. Kelse Kendrick, her six-year-old son Kaleb, her two-year-old daughter Kynli, her six-year-old niece Haley, and her eight-year-old nephew Colton had all been shot in the head. Three of the children were pronounced dead at the scene, while Kelse and her niece were airlifted to hospitals in Birmingham where they later succumbed to their injuries.
The suspect in this quintuple homicide was identified as Kelse's 32-year-old husband, Brandon Allan Kendrick II. He was taken into custody at the home without incident and has since been charged with five counts of capital murder. In August 2025, a grand jury indicted Brandon Kendrick on one count of murder of two or more persons and four counts of murder with a victim under the age of 14, for which he faces the death penalty. While a definitive motive has not been publicly established, it was reported that he had repeatedly called his wife to come home from the party and that he later told investigators the 'TV told him to kill his family'. The investigation into the tragic event is ongoing.
