Van Henry Brisbon, a 62-year-old man, will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the murder of 16-year-old Lauren Juma.
The teenager’s mother expressed shock and anger when the murder took place in late April 2022.
According to CBS affiliate KHOU, Lauren’s mother, Laurie Young, expressed her grief and anger, stating, “He treated Lauren like she was his baby. I don’t understand. He can rot in jail. He had no reason to take my baby’s life.”
Brisbon’s behavior took a peculiar turn on the night of the incident, causing concern for young Lauren. Worried about her well-being, Lauren reached out to her mother and sister via FaceTime from their residence in the Houston-area city of Humble. Since their mother was away on business, Lauren’s older sister was requested to check on the house. “All she wanted was to escape from the situation,” recalled Keryca Harmon, Lauren’s sister, as reported by KHOU in 2022.
“She simply mentioned that he was acting strangely and asked me to come and get her.”
Brisbon walked out of the building.
According to reports, he allegedly advised the arresting deputies to carry out their duties.
After a nine-day trial, the defendant was convicted of capital murder by the jurors.
Assistant District Attorney Katie Warren, who prosecuted the case alongside ADA Gina Gilmore, expressed gratitude towards the jurors for their service and the verdict they reached. She acknowledged the difficulty of listening to the bodycam recordings, which captured the victim’s distress, cries for help, and the eventual gunshots. Warren emphasized the importance of the jury’s decision, as it provided justice to the victim and her family.
According to Kim Ogg, the District Attorney for Harris County, this defendant was a predator armed with a gun. The decision to harm a young girl and ultimately end her life was both senseless and horrific. Ogg emphasizes that the defendant’s actions not only resulted in the loss of a promising young woman, but they have also caused irreparable damage to her family.