In the summer of 2021, the quiet town of Standish, Maine, was unsettled by the tragic death of Amanda Brown, a 30-year-old White female. Her life was cut short on the night of June 14, 2021, in the home she shared with her boyfriend and their two young children. Initially, the circumstances surrounding her death were clouded in uncertainty, but it would soon become clear that Amanda died from a single gunshot wound to the stomach.
The investigation into Amanda's death quickly focused on
her boyfriend, Brandon Libby, then 37. Two days after Amanda's death, police found her body in her bedroom. Libby was located at his ex-fiancée's home in Waterboro, where he engaged in an hours-long standoff with police before being taken into custody. He was not immediately charged, but about four months later, in November 2021, he was arrested and charged with her murder. Prosecutors alleged that Libby shot Amanda during an argument while their two children were in the house. They described the couple's relationship as "volatile" and "tumultuous". According to the prosecution, after shooting her, Libby placed her body in their bed and slept beside her before leaving with the children the next morning. He did not call for medical help or alert the authorities.
Brandon Libby maintained that the shooting was a tragic accident. His defense team argued that Amanda had pointed the gun at him during an argument, and it discharged accidentally as he tried to push it away. They contended that his failure to call 911 was a reaction to shock and not an indication of guilt. The case went to trial, where forensic experts presented conflicting theories about the trajectory of the bullet and the likelihood of an accidental shooting. After two and a half days of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial.
Following the hung jury, Brandon Libby agreed to a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. In January 2025, a judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison for the death of Amanda Brown. During the sentencing, Amanda's family spoke of their profound loss, describing her as a dedicated mother and a children's case manager who helped families in need. Libby offered an apology to her family in court.
