East Vincent man charged with murder of girlfriend
EAST VINCENT » A man already in jail on numerous assault charges after his girlfriend was found dead in their home in December, has now also been charged with first-degree murder, charges bolstered by home security camera footage showing beatings taking place over several weeks.
Leroy Brahm, 31, of East Vincent Township, Chester County, has been charged with murder in the first degree, murder in the third degree, strangulation, aggravated assault, and other related offenses for numerous assaults in November 2021, and the death of his girlfriend, 21-year-old Annabel Meenan, on Dec. 4, 2021.
In December, Brahm was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person for beating Meenan after police were called to the home and found her dead in the living room, lying in a pool of blood.
East Vincent Police were called to the 800 block of Buttonwood Avenue on Dec. 4,
2021, for the report of a medical emergency. Upon arrival, they found the unresponsive victim lying on the living room floor with wounds and extensive bruising to her face, chest, arms and legs, according to a narrative provided by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.
Brahm was at the scene when police and EMS arrived. Police started CPR with the assistance of Friendship Ambulance. The victim was transported to Phoenixville Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Doctors told investigators that the victim had extensive trauma to her head and face and had lacerations and bruising on the rest of her body, including her arms, legs, torso, and pelvic area.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Brahm told police he and Meenan had been at a tavern in Phoenixville the night before and had gone to bed around midnight. He said he woke up at 6:30 a.m., noticed she was not there and found her lying in the living room. He told police he slapped her several times in an attempt to wake her, and then called 911 at 7:06 a.m.
However, evidence in the home suggested Brahm’s narrative might be a fabrication, according to court records.
Investigators discovered bloodstains on the kitchen walls, the oven’s glass door shattered, a hole in the wall, and Meenan’s damaged cellphone on the floor, according to the DA’s office.
Brahm’s hand, finger, and elbow had bruising and swelling. Later that day, a search warrant was executed at the residence, where numerous home security videos were retrieved. The videos showed the defendant assaulting the victim on multiple dates before the victim’s death, including:
• Nov. 6, 2021: Brahm is seen punching a bedroom door and furniture while yelling at the victim. Later, Meenan walks down the hall and into the bedroom with no visible injuries or limps. Within an hour, Meenan is seen on the video limping, having difficulty walking, and rubbing her lower leg, which was discovered to have a fibular fracture when she sought medical help on Nov. 15. In surveillance videos after that date and leading up to her death, Meenan can be seen wearing a medical walking boot.
• Nov. 11, 2021: The home security system records Meenan saying “what the (expletive) am I doing. Who the (expletive) am I dating?”
She is recorded as saying she is not allowed to visit her family and adds, “I can’t take this abuse any more.”
• Nov. 13, 2021: The video shows Brahm strangling Meenan to the point of unconsciousness and slapping her.
• Nov. 23, 2021: Brahm is shown on video punching Meenan 21 times in the head and body and strangling her.
• Dec. 4, 2021: Video shows Brahm punching Meenan in the head and body at least 85 times and kicking and stomping her at least 80 times in a series of assaults that culminated in her death.
When Brahm was first arrested on the assault charges in December, he was held on $1 million bail set by Magisterial District Judge John Hipple, according to the District Attorney’s office. He is now held without bail due to the nature of the charges.
The Chester County Coroner’s
Office ruled the victim’s death a homicide on Feb. 14, after additional testing was completed on the case.
“Annabel Meenan suffered as a victim of domestic abuse over a lengthy period of time at the hands of Leroy Brahm,” said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “The defendant viciously, intentionally, and callously beat her to death — all of which was captured on home security videos. These images are among the most horrific and disturbing displays of depravity ever seen. The conclusions of the forensic pathologist and coroner indicate that his abhorrent actions caused her death. My office will do everything in its power to hold this defendant accountable for every injury he inflicted on Annabel in order to bring justice to her family and loved ones.”
“The death of Annabel Meenan is heartbreaking because we know the unimaginable horror she endured in the last few hours of her life,” East Vincent Police Chief Matt Williams said in the press release issued by the District Attorney’s office. “Law enforcement diligently and meticulously collected enough evidence against Leroy Brahm to charge him with her murder. Thank you to all the first responders who assisted on the scene that tragic morning.”
A preliminary hearing on the murder charges will be held before Hipple on March 3.
Anyone with any information that may assist in this case, is asked to contact Detective Christine Bleiler at 610-344-6866.
If you feel unsafe around someone you love, contact the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County’s 24/7 hotline at 888-711-6270 or 610-431-1430. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.