In the small town of Brundidge, Alabama, the discovery of a body in a secluded, grassy area off of Floyd Street on April 20, 2021, marked the beginning of a tragic story. The deceased was identified as 44-year-old Cordero Ousley, a man from the nearby town of Clio. An investigation quickly determined that he had been shot to death, and what started as a local police matter soon involved the Pike County Sheriff's Office to unravel the circumstances of his untimely end.
Investigators worked tirelessly for four days, putting in nearly 70 hours of non-stop work to piece together the events that led to the death of the male victim. Their efforts revealed a sinister plot. According to statements gathered during the investigation, a 23-year-old woman named Raven Braswell had allegedly lured Ousley to the isolated location on Floyd Street. There, along with her 22-year-old accomplice, Joshua Devon Peterson, they are said to have robbed and fatally shot him. After the alleged crime, Braswell and Peterson traveled to a motel in Ozark. The dedicated work of law enforcement paid off, and within 48 hours, both suspects were in custody. The apprehension of the pair was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the U.S. Marshals and police departments from Troy, Dale County, Ozark, Dothan, and Eufaula. Braswell was located in Dothan, while Peterson was found near Eufaula.
Following their arrests, both Raven Braswell and Joshua Devon Peterson were charged with capital murder and held in the Pike County Jail. The legal process eventually brought a resolution to the case, providing some measure of closure for Ousley's family. Joshua Devon Peterson was sentenced to 35 years in prison for his role in the murder. Later, Raven Braswell accepted a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to the charge of murder. She was subsequently sentenced to 40 years in prison. The successful prosecution was a result of extensive investigative work, including collecting evidence from the crime scene and obtaining confessions from both defendants.
