Former Duke player Brandon Braxton confesses to 2024 murder of real estate agent

Former Duke football player Brandon Braxton reportedly confessed to first-degree murder in connection with a July 2024 death of a North Carolina real estate agent, according to TMZ.

The 33-year-old Braxton, who was a star receiver and safety at Duke between 2010-13, allegedly confessed to the murder of Charlotte-based realtor Whitney Hurd while being held at the Mecklenburg Sheriff’s Office while being held an unrelated trespassing charge, one of his seven arrests following the murder, according to the New York Post and TMZ.

“I killed Whitney Hurd,” Braxton allegedly told officers on March 3 from inside the Mecklenburg Sheriff’s Office, according to an arrest affidavit signed March 20 and viewed by the New York Post.

Hurd, 32, was reported missing by her family on July 11, according to the Post, and a private investigator later discovered her body inside her SouthPark townhome three days later, according to the Queen City News. Hurd, whose body was found wrapped in bedding according to WBTV, reportedly suffered multiple stab wounds and her death was ruled a homicide.

Braxton had long been viewed as a person of interest in the murder after his fingerprints were reportedly found both at the murder scene and inside Hurd’s stolen car, according to the affidavit, but he wasn’t arrested until March 20, more than two weeks after allegedly confessing to the murder.

Police affidavit: Former Duke player had prior relationship with murder victim

Police discovered Hurd’s stolen 2014 BMW X3 after officers tracked her stolen phone to its last location, but neither Braxton not her phone were with the car. The former Duke star was later arrested July 24, 2024 for an unrelated car theft charge and was interviewed by detectives about his relationship with Hurd, even allegedly admitting she “looked petrified” the last time he saw here, according to the Post. Nevertheless, Braxton was released Aug. 14.

Following his Jan. 23 arrest for trespassing, Braxton reportedly accessed a kiosk in the Mecklenburg County Jail around 8:54 am ET on March 3 and confessed to Hurd’s murder in a message sent to Sheriff’s administrative sergeants, according to the affidavit reviewed by the Post. An arrest warrant was obtained March 20 and Braxton was charged with first-degree murder and felony robbery with a dangerous weapon. He’s currently being held without bail following a March 21 court appearance.

Braxton and Hurd were old high school friends from Providence High in Charlotte, NC, according to the Post, but the pair reportedly lost touch while Braxton attended Duke University on a football scholarship.

After graduating in 2014, Braxton reportedly began stalking Hurd, appearing outside her home, according to the police affidavit viewed by the Post. At one point, Braxton allegedly fell asleep on Hurd’s driveway when she wouldn’t let him into her townhouse in south Charlotte, the affidavit states per the Post.

Braxton is also connected to several other open cases, including assault and indecent exposure when he allegedly exposed his “private parts in a public place,” according to court records reviewed by the Post.

Braxton caught 93 passes for 893 yards and three touchdowns while also contributing 51 tackles on defense in 43 career games for the Blue Devils.