Kaylen Johnson, a 24-year-old pregnant mother from Louisiana, was senselessly murdered along with her 2-year-old son, Kayden Johnson, in 2022.
Now, more than two years later, the man responsible for their deaths, Brynnen Murphy, has pleaded guilty to reduced charges.
On April 1, Murphy, now 23, admitted guilt to two counts of manslaughter and one count of first-degree feticide, significantly lowering the original charges of first-degree murder. He now faces a maximum sentence of 95 years in prison when he returns to court for sentencing on June 10, according to Fox 8.
The heartbreaking case drew outrage across Louisiana and the nation after Murphy confessed to the murders in March 2022. At the time, he walked into a Baton Rouge police station and admitted to fatally shooting Kaylen after a verbal argument in his apartment parking lot.
After the killing, he dumped her body in the woods—all while her toddler son, Kayden, sat in a nearby car. He then drove to Central Thruway, where he threw the child over a bridge, according to police reports.
The plea deal, though lighter than the original charges, was approved by East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore and supported by the victims’ family, who were faced with reliving the harrowing details of the crime.
“This is a really horrible set of events, as you can imagine,” Moore told KFLY. “Anybody that is associated with the case has a hard time discussing the facts.”
Kaylen, described by friends and family as vibrant, kind-hearted, and deeply loving toward her son, was several weeks pregnant at the time of her death. The charge of first-degree feticide reflects the loss of her unborn child—another life stolen far too soon.
The case continues to spotlight the grave dangers of domestic violence, especially for young Black women and their children. Advocates hope the tragedy of Kaylen and Kayden’s deaths can spark continued conversations around prevention, support systems, and justice reform.
Murphy remains in custody as he awaits sentencing.
