Humphrey Farm Where Campers Gathered
Brandon Hydrick was murdered on Saturday, September 29, 2012. He was leaving a campfire and cookout arranged by his girlfriend on her family’s property in North Alabama.
As the friends were leaving for the evening, a pickup truck driven by Brandon’s brother, Ryan, 25, was struck by an AK-47 rifle. From 100 yards away, the assault weapon penetrated the truck’s tailgate, rear cab, backseat, and then the front passenger seat. The bullet bore into the 26-year-old Brandon Hydrick and killed him.
Alleged Murderer Joel Moyers
Moyers, 52, who lived in the neighborhood for decades in a mobile home owned by his mother, was charged with murder and with shooting into an occupied vehicle.
Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely said Moyers told authorities he shot the assault rifle as a warning because he thought the young men seemed suspicious as they drove on Fennell Road.
However, four witnesses stated the brothers had been at a cookout and marshmallow roast near Piney Creek on property owned by the family of Brandon’s girlfriend, Bronwen Murray of Huntsville. As the evening drew to a close all the campfire attendees exited the property for the evening.
Murray commented to reporters that Brandon often drove down Fennell Road, where her family has a country home, and that they had been warned of Moyers’ reputation.
Brandon With Girlfriend Bronwen
“We were aware to be cautious around him because he had threatened other people in the neighborhood and he was known to have a lot of weapons,” Murray said. She recalled that Brandon had passed Moyers’ home dozens of times in recent months, even seeing Moyers outside his mobile home once and waving hello to him. She said Moyers waved back.
After 48 hours of incarceration, Moyers was released from Limestone County Jail on $260,000 bond. District Judge Jerry Batts set bond on the conditions that Moyers relinquish any firearms and not possess a gun while free on bail. Also, he must move to his mother’s home in Cullman, Alabama where she resides in a lake-front vacation property, estimated to be worth $340,000, according to tax assessment records.
In the months following the murder, Brandon’s friends and family petitioned the District Attorney, Brian Jones, to upgrade the charges to Capital Murder. A Facebook page, Justice for Brandon, was liked by more than 1,300 people over an eight-week period. More than 600 people also signed an online petition to support capital murder charges for Moyers, which was then sent to Jones. Ultimately, the charges were upgraded to capital murder in December 2012 and Moyers’ bond revoked, which placed him in jail to await trial.
In a surprising turn of events, District Attorney Brian Jones announced he would not seek the death penalty. One week later a judge granted Joel Moyers’ a bond hearing. Despite facing a recently upgraded charge of capital murder, Moyers’ attorneys may now be able to see him released on $260,000 bond. The motions will be heard in Limestone County on February 19 at 9 am.
This tragedy has left the Hydrick family, Brandon’s many friends and this entire community, in such heartache over this wonderful young mans death. The shooter should be in jail, not living in a lake house free on bond. Period.
RIP Brandon. You’re loved by so many people. People who won’t stop until justice is served. Gone but never forgotten..
Your comment is spot on. Thank you so much for speaking the truth of the matter. Brandon was a wonderful young man — who didn’t even own a gun — and would certainly never hurt another human being. Let’s hope that justice is served and his killer is placed in jail where he belongs.
Why didn’t the judge order psychiatric evaluation? This guy appears to be very dangerous and unstable.
We also wonder why they didn’t perform a toxicology test, or search his trailer. He seems to be a real loon or a drug user.
They should have already charged him with Captial Murder, they would have if it had been a drive by shooting and the victim was in a vehicle. Wait, just like this one except the shooter wasn’t in a vehicle.
Wow … you can kill someone in Limestone County & they’ll just ship you to Cullman?? By the way … on behalf of the people of Cullman county, THANKS! You idiots! If you have enough money & know the right people (probably the Sheriff) you can absolutely get away with murder
Amy…on behalf of the people of Cullman County I would like to know how you can blame us for him being here when we have absolutely no say in the matter?
this really really sickens me and really makes me understand when people take law into their own hands.. Brandon was my cousin and I love and miss him dearly!!
Oh my GOSH! How horrible….my thoughts and prayers will be with you all!
This is just one more VERY IMPORTANT news story, that has happened in North Alabama, that those here in Cullman are not privy to, because our TV carriers no longer carries the Huntsville stations! Via facebook, I learned of a child that had been kidnapped in North Alabama. Having said that… I agree with the reply above that, this should be treated as a “drive-by shooting”, and charged with Murder! And, how did he manage the large bail? MOST IMPORTANTLY: What can we do to help this family in pain? Living in Cullman, is there anything we can do? We certainly didn’t ask for this, anymore than Brandon Hydrick did. May God comfort his family and loved ones. May the Justice System protect the innocent, while punishing the guilty.
Deepest Sympathy from the family of Hunter Blake McElroy, 22, who was also shot and killed in front of his younger brother, Houston, 16 in Decatur, AL on May 28th, 2010 at Holaways Market. My children were minding their own business when they were pursued by two vehicles, forced into a parking lot and blocked only to fired upon when trying to retreat to their truck once they sensed danger. Hunter was shot in the back twice. Timothy Dewayne West received Life but so did our entire family because we no longer have our son Hunter who was so dear to our hearts. We pray for justice for your family and Brandon. Senseless crimes such as these warrant the most severe punishment to prevent other families of such a tragedy.
To April, and the rest of the Caravella / McElroy family, we would like to express our deepest sympathies on the tragedy you have had to endure. This is another story that somehow did not receive the attention it deserved. While we are glad to hear that Hunter’s shooter received a life sentence, we know that nothing will ever make up for the loss of your son. Now — particularly in light of recent national events — we would like for everyone to begin a serious discussion about gun violence, and a REAL solution to the problem. Thank you for reaching out with your story.