A 28-year-old man from Rome, Georgia, Desmond Lavonta Brown, has been convicted of the murder of two half-sisters. The conviction was delivered on November 21, 2023, by an Alabama jury, finding Brown guilty in the murders of Vanita Richardson, 18, and Truvenia Campbell, 30. The tragic incident stemmed from Brown’s erroneous belief that the sisters had stolen his wallet during his birthday party.
The murders occurred on May 12, 2020, but the trial was conducted in Alabama, where the killings are believed to have taken place. The case saw a dramatic turn when Brown realized his mistake after his mother discovered his wallet behind his TV. GBI Special Agent Ghee Wilson reported Brown’s remorseful reaction upon this discovery. The jury, having reviewed 130 evidence pieces and heard 33 witnesses in the seventh trial, reached their verdict in under an hour, sentencing Brown to life without parole.
The trial unveiled the case’s chilling details. Co-defendant Christopher Pullen, 26, testified that he, Brown, and another co-defendant, Devin Watts, 40, deceived the sisters into their car, pretending to conduct a drug deal. Brown interrogated the women about his wallet before shooting them. Their bodies were later discovered off a bridge over the Etowah River in Rome, Georgia, their heads covered with bags.
District Attorney Summer Summerford of DeKalb and Cherokee Counties in Alabama acknowledged the significant collaborative efforts in the investigation and prosecution process, recognizing the emotional impact on the victims’ families. As the case concludes, co-defendants Pullen and Watts remain detained at the Cherokee County Jail in Alabama.
