An Alabama man accused in the July 18 shooting deaths of his wife and four children – including two of his own – admitted the slayings to investigators shortly after the massacre.
“He said the TV told him to kill his family, and he said something about radio towers,’’ ALEA State Bureau of Investigation Agent Ivy Hornsby testified Thursday in a Bibb County courtroom.
The agent’s testimony came during a preliminary hearing for 32-year-old Brandon Allan Kendrick II, who is charged with five counts of capital murder.
The charges are four counts of capital murder of a child under the age of 14, and one count of capital murder in the slayings of two or more people in one act.
Killed were Brandon Kendrick’s wife of six years, 24-year-old Kelse Kendrick, and their two children Kaleb Kendrick, 6 and Kynli Kendrick, 2.
The other victims were the couple’s niece and nephew, Haley Daniels, 6, and Colton Daniels, who was killed days before his 9th birthday.
Kendrick, whose grandfather is the longtime pastor of Oasis of Praise church in Bessemer, has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Testimony revealed that all five victims had been shot in the head, and Hornsby would go on to explain where each victim was found. The chilling testimony brought tears from the family members.
Following the hearing, District Judge Marvin Wiggins forwarded the case to a Bibb County grand jury for indictment consideration.
Kendrick, shacked at the hands and feet, did not speak during the hearing. He appeared to be focused on the proceedings but occasionally glanced to his left where several rows of family members of the victims sat.
Kendrick’s mother and sister were in the courtroom but were sitting with the victims’ families. Several wept quietly throughout Hornsby’s testimony.
The shooting happened at the home of Pastor Kendrick. His grandson and family lived in the garage apartment on the West Blocton property.
