Watch CBS News

Murder Victim Kyaira Williams Was Seeking Help For Her Husband When She Died

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The night Kyaira Williams disappeared, she was worried.

Her mother, Karen Williams, says her daughter thought her husband might hurt himself.

The couple from Waco had been visiting her in Dallas when Brannon began "acting out of character," according to newly released court records.

Corporal Brannon Williams left the US Army in December after four and a half years of service.  He later told Dallas County Sheriff's deputies he suffers from PTSD.

According to the affidavit filed by Dallas police, he was seen Monday afternoon sitting in the parking lot outside his mother-in-law's apartment complex waving a Glock handgun inside his gray Chevrolet Tahoe.

Apartment management asked he leave, and Kyaira left with him.

"She didn't want to let him go by himself," the affidavit said Karen told police.

They parked along Walnut Road in Dallas and, according to the affidavit, spent two hours on the phone with a crisis hotline, before he agreed to go to the Dallas VA Medical Center.

In a video streamed live to Facebook as he drove that night, Brannon says, "I'm trying to find the best hospital I can go to. I'm not suicidal. I'm not crazy."

At times, Kyaira is visible in the passenger seat.

"You want me to drop you off?" Brannon asks her toward the end of the last video.

She tells him to keep driving.

"Why you wanna stay with me so bad?" he asks.

"Because I want to make sure you're okay," she response.

Around 8:42, Kyaira's mother texted asking if she was okay.

She received a response that they were on their way to the hospital.

Less than an hour later, at about 9:29 p.m., the Hutchins Police Department reports it received a 911 call placed in the area near I-20 and I-45 from Brannon, who told them his wife ran off with his gun and that he would never hurt her.

Half an hour later, Dallas 911 received a call from Brannon's cell phone from 8210 South Lancaster Road. A police record of the call notes, "Male caller requesting help. Male caller states he was at Chevron, but does not know where."

At about 10:01 p.m., Dallas police say Brannon flagged down two Dallas County Sheriff's deputies making a traffic stop on westbound I-20 near Houston School Road and told them he was looking for his wife.

According to the affidavit, Brannon said Kyaira had jumped out of the car and run from him because she was afraid he would hurt her. He told deputies that he briefly chased her, but did not answer when asked what happened next.

The deputies determined Brannon was a manic state and transported him to the Parkland Psychiatric Emergency Center for care.

They notified Dallas police, who began investigating Kyaira's disappearance.

Tuesday afternoon, a search began in the area around I-45 and I-20 where police say cell phone records showed both Kyaira and Brannon's phones had been present. Wednesday afternoon, a police officer discovered Kyaira's body. According to police, she'd been shot several times and bullet casings found nearby matched ones collected from Brannon's Chevy Tahoe.

Also found in his vehicle were a shotgun and 2 Glock magazines.

Brannon was arrested and charged with 1st degree murder in connection with Kyaira's death. Police said they consider this incident to be family violence.

When asked for comment, U.S. Army spokesperson Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Hewitt confirmed Corporal Brannon Williams served as a mechanic in the Army from April 2017 to December 2021, last stationed at Fort Hood. He would not release the conditions of his discharge citing "privacy considerations."

RESOURCES

U.S. Dept. of Veteran's Affairs Mental Health Resources

State of Texas Mental Health Services

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.