In a quiet Virginia Beach neighborhood, the lives of a long-time couple were brought to a tragic and violent end in July of 2019. Roy Brady, a 72-year-old male, and his wife, Sheila, were discovered deceased in their home on Kellam Road. The couple, who had resided in the home for over three decades, were described by neighbors as a sweet, old, and peaceful pair who were harmless and would not have been able to defend themselves.
Roy was a veteran, having served 23 years in the United States Marines and later the United States Navy. He was known for his love of the outdoors, including fishing and hunting, as well as his great sense of humor.
The discovery of their bodies was made after police were called to perform a welfare check. The investigation into their deaths quickly led to a suspect close to home: their 44-year-old son, Christopher Shawn Brady. He was taken into custody and subsequently charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Jail records indicated that the murders had occurred on a Friday, and the bodies were not discovered until the following Monday.
Neighbors reported that there was a strained relationship between Christopher and his father, with frequent arguments. It was also revealed that Christopher Brady was a convicted felon with a prior history of receiving stolen property and grand larceny from 1993. Despite this, he had successfully petitioned the court to have his right to carry a firearm restored in 2016.
After the killings, Christopher Brady and his teenage daughter, who also lived at the residence, left the home. They later returned that same evening so he could retrieve shell casings and attempt to stage the scene to look like a robbery. He disposed of the barrel of the gun used in the murders by throwing it into the water from the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. The remaining parts of the firearm were found in his truck. Days later, he returned to Virginia Beach and confessed to the police.
In October 2021, Christopher Brady pleaded guilty to the charges against him. Despite his confession, he never provided a reason for his actions, choosing to remain silent during his court proceedings. In March 2022, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed under his plea agreement, which consisted of 22 years for the two murders and a mandatory eight years for the gun charges. The motive behind the tragic deaths of Roy and Sheila Brady remains a painful mystery for their surviving family.
