The postal worker and mother who was abducted and killed while delivering mail had previously been convicted on drug charges — and so had her husband, who died only months before her, court records show.
Brandi Reynolds, 35, often shared glimpses online of what appeared to be a happy family life with her husband, Brent Reynolds, and their two daughters — a portrait that made her violent death Friday along her route in Hays, North Carolina, even more jarring.
However, records obtained by the Daily Mail show that Brandi and Brent — who was killed in a car crash shortly before Christmas — were arrested in 2022 for allegedly running drugs out of their home in rural Wilkes County.
According to a criminal indictment, the slain mother used the residence for “keeping and selling controlled substances,” including “marijuana and fentanyl.”
She also faced a charge of “trafficking opium or heroin” involving more than 4 grams but less than 14 grams with intent to sell, as well as conspiring with her husband to sell marijuana.
Investigators said they discovered “drug paraphernalia, baggies, wax rubber containers, plastic totes and scales to package and repackage” inside the home, according to the indictment.
Both Brandi and Brent were ultimately convicted.
Court records show Brandi received a 30-month supervised probation sentence in May 2023, while Brent was given 36 months of supervised probation.
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Brent Reynolds died in a single-car accident two days before Christmas last year while still serving his sentence.
He was not wearing his seatbelt when his 2014 Ram truck veered off the road, struck a tree and overturned. He was declared dead at the scene.
Brandi Reynolds was working her route on Friday in Hays, about 160 miles west of Raleigh, when she was kidnapped and shot dead, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
A witness called police and reported an armed man in a gray Nissan Altima threatening Reynolds, followed by “multiple gunshots.”
Reynolds was dead when deputies arrived.
Career criminal William Craig Durham, 56, was taken into custody and is accused of kidnapping and murdering Reynolds, who had been restrained before she was killed, police said.
During Durham’s court appearance on Monday, one of Brandi’s family members reported that he had threatened her and broken into her home in the past.
However, investigators would not confirm that the two knew each other.
Durham has a lengthy rap sheet of violent crimes, including convictions for assault, escaping jail, intimidating a witness, kidnapping, and robbery, according to the Daily Mail.
The Reynolds’ two daughters are now orphans after losing both of their parents to tragedy.
