UPDATE:
Three more charges have been filed against 37-year-old Brandon Hodges who was recently arrested for murdering 67-year-old Wanda Kennedy, Rowan County deputies say.
After thorough investigation, deputies also charged Hodges with robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony breaking and entering and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. This is in addition to Hodges’ first degree murder charge.
Kennedy’s grandson, Ronald Helms, who was at the home at the time Hodges broke into the Kennedy residence, was severely injured when Hodges began assaulting him with a baseball bat he had picked up at the home.
Helms was able to escape the house and call for help. Hodges stayed, damaging items and going through the home. Kennedy came home while Hodges was still inside and confronted Hodges who then assaulted her with a blunt object found in the home. She died as a result of her injuries.
During the assault, Hodges took Kennedy’s cell phone. But deputies soon located him after responding to Helms’ call for help.
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ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Rowan County authorities have charged a suspect in connection to a homicide that took place on 8353 Smith Road in Kannapolis.
The body of 67-year-old Wanda Kennedy was reportedly found after deputies responded to a breaking and entering and assault call Wednesday. After entering the home, deputies say they found the suspect, 37-year-old Brandon Hodges, inside and took him into custody.
A second victim was also seriously injured in the incident, according to investigators, but had already been taken to a Concord area hospital by the time deputies arrived.
Hodges is charged with First Degree Murder and remains in the custody of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office under no bond.
The investigation is ongoing.
