Parrish
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department has made an arrest in the November 2021 murder of a 58-year-old Seymour woman.
The investigation that led to the arrest of Brady Alan Parrish, 25, of Kurtz on a charge of murder began when officers with the sheriff’s department responded to a 911 call from a relative on Nov. 10, 2021.
That caller reported Lisha A. “Lee” Branum had been found dead in her home in the 400 block of West County Road 1050N, according to a news release issued Tuesday evening by Sheriff Rick Meyer.
The cause of death was recorded as gunshot wounds to the back, Meyer said.
According to the probable cause affidavit signed by county Detective J.L. McElfresh, the investigation that began with few leads led to multiple interviews and numerous search warrants and the eventual arrest of Parrish, Meyer said.
Two acquaintances of Parrish told investigators they drove Parrish to Branum’s residence off of State Road 58 in far northern Jackson County and dropped him off along the road, according to court records. Parrish told the men to come back and get him in a few minutes.
One of the men told police he heard two gunshots before they returned to pick Parrish up about a minute or two after dropping him off, according to court records.
Both men also told investigators they did not know Parrish was planning to kill someone when they dropped him off.
The case against Parrish was sent to Jackson County Prosecutor Jeffrey Chalfant. After reviewing the case, Chalfant filed a charge of murder on Aug. 25, and Jackson Circuit Court Judge Richard W. Poynter issued an arrest warrant for Parrish the same day.
The sheriff’s department located Parrish in Kansas City, Missouri, Meyer said.
Jackson County Detective Clint Burcham and McElfresh traveled to Missouri and worked with investigators with the Kansas City Police Department, taking Parrish into custody on the warrant at about 2 p.m. Aug. 30.
The extradition process was completed Sept. 9, and Parrish was transported from Missouri to the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown on Tuesday where he awaits an initial hearing on the murder charge.
Lt. Adam Nicholson, Detective Sgt. Jesse Hutchinson and Officer Mark Holt also assisted with the investigation.
“This case is an example of excellent and diligent police work, leading to the identification and arrest of a suspect,” Meyer said. “It has been a lengthy and complex investigation, and our officers deserve all the credit for their hard work.”