Inset left: Brandon Kelley (Liberty County Sheriff’s Office). Inset right: Stacey Kelley (Liberty County Sheriff’s Office). Background: A sign outside the main gate of Fort Stewart, Georgia, is shown on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum).
A mother and father are accused of starving their child to death on a United States Army base in Georgia.
Brandon M. Kelley, aged 29, and Stacey D. Kelley, aged 26, have been indicted on charges of felony murder and two counts of second-degree murder in connection to the death of their child, Vyolet Kelley. This was revealed in a federal grand jury indictment made public on Friday.
The indictment accuses the parents of causing their daughter’s death by “failing to provide sufficient nourishment and medical attention,” and alleges they subjected her to “severe and undue physical and mental suffering.” The child’s age was not specified, only that she was younger than 18.
The family resided at the Fort Stewart Military Reservation from October 26 to November 22, the timeframe during which the child’s death occurred, according to the indictment. During this time, Brandon Kelley was serving as a soldier.
Specifics about the alleged mistreatment have not been disclosed. However, Tara Lyons, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, described the accusations as “profoundly tragic on multiple levels.”
“Our office is committed to collaborating with law enforcement to ensure justice is served,” she remarked. If found guilty, Brandon and Stacey Kelley could face life imprisonment, with no possibility of parole in the federal system.
Liberty County, Georgia, jail records show that Brandon and Stacey Kelley were arrested by the Fort Stewart Criminal Investigative Division on Friday. Because Fort Stewart is a U.S. Army base, the charges were filed in federal court.
On Monday, Brandon Kelley – via an attorney – requested several leaves of absence for the fall and winter.
Fort Stewart is located in southeast Georgia, about 40 miles from Savannah.
