Court records release new details on murder of Jessica Brandon
Posted By: BriAna Campbell
bcampbell@klkntv.com
A newly released affidavit from the Lancaster County Court describes what led up to the murder of 36 year old Jessica Brandon on July 31, and what led up to the arrest of three suspects.
When Lincoln Police arrived at the home Jessica Brandon shared with her boyfriend Michael Robertson, Robertson led them to where Brandon lay unresponsive at the bottom of the basement stairs, bleeding from a gunshot wound in her shoulder.
Bullet holes and graze marks covered the walls and shell casings littered the staircase leading down to the basement.
In addition to Robertson and Brandon, four girls, all under the age of 16, and one 61 year old woman were also home at the time of the shooting, some of whom were bound with zip ties and duct tape by the suspects.
Victims say the suspects were all carrying flashlights and guns, and wearing black, with their faces covered below the eyes.
According to the affidavit, the suspects yelled "LPD" before breaking down the door of Brandon’s home.
Surveillance footage from a security camera on the front of the home and information from informants lead to the arrest of Dante Williams, his brother Damon Williams, and Tawhyne Patterson.
Dante Williams told one informant that there was supposed to be $250,000 in a safe in the home, and the robbery "went south" after they encountered all of the people inside of the house.
According to the affidavit, police have agreed to pay informants $1,000 for tips they gave investigators.
Dante Williams is being held at the Lancaster County Jail on $2 million bond.
Tawhyne Patterson and Damon Williams remain in the Bell County Jail in Texas, where they were arrested.
Once a judge has approved their extradition, they will be brought back to Lincoln to begin court proceedings
Police are still searching for a fourth suspect in an attempted robbery on Brandon’s home the night before her murder, also caught on surveillance video outside the home.
According to a victim witness, Brandon saw four people in her backyard via security camera footage on the night of July 30. When she went out to investigate, a maroon or red car with its lights off sped away.
It has since been discovered Tawhyne Patterson owns a maroon Chevy Impala.
Jessica Brandon’s boyfriend, Michael Robertson, was arrested on August 13 on drug charges.
Surveillance video shows Robertson hiding marijuana, THC edibles, and $85,000 in drug money in a shed before police arrived the night of Jessica’s murder.
He has been released on bond and is cooperating with the investigation.
