WEST CHESTER, PA — The Chester County District Attorney’s Office and East Vincent Township Police announced that 31-year-old Leroy Brahm of Spring City 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 December 4, 2021.
In December, Brahm was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person for beating Annabel and was held on $1M bail set by Magisterial District Judge John Hipple. The defendant 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 February 14, 2022, after additional testing was completed on the case.
DA Deb Ryan said, “Annabel Meenan suffered as a victim of domestic abuse over a lengthy period of time at the hands of Leroy Brahm. 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.”
East Vincent Township Chief of Police Matt Williams said, “The death of Annabel Meenan is heartbreaking because we know the unimaginable horror she endured in the last few hours of her life. 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.”
The allegations in the complaint are as follows:
East Vincent Township Police were called to the 800-block of Buttonwood Ave. in Spring City on December 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. The defendant 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.
Investigators discovered bloodstains on the kitchen walls, the oven’s glass door shattered, a hole in the wall, and the victim’s damaged cell phone on the floor. The defendant’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: The defendant is seen punching a bedroom door and furniture while yelling at the victim. Later, the victim walks down the hall and into the bedroom with no visible injuries or limps. Within an hour, the victim is seen 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, the victim can be seen wearing a medical walking boot.
- Nov. 13, 2021: The defendant is seen strangling the victim to the point of unconsciousness and slapping the victim.
- Nov. 23, 2021: The defendant is seen punching the victim 21 times in the head and body and strangling the victim.
- Dec. 4, 2021: The defendant is seen punching the victim 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.
The preliminary hearing on these charges will be held before Magisterial District Judge John Hipple on March 3, 2022.
Chester County Detectives and East Vincent Township Police are investigating. Assistant District Attorneys Kate Wright and Kate Lewis are the assigned prosecutors.
If you have any information that may assist in this case, 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.
Information is subject to change at any time. Information, a criminal complaint, or an arrest is not a declaration of guilt. A suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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