Arrest follows nearly two months of searching for missing mother
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police on Friday charged a man with first-degree murder in connection with the disappearance and now-believed death of a 37-year-old Charlotte-area woman who has not been recovered.
Police identified the woman as Brandi Leshonne Merrick, 37, a mother of three who was last seen in early June while staying with her sister in Harrisburg. Family members previously told reporters she left the night of June 8 to visit her children at her ex-boyfriend's home and did not return.
On July 31, investigators arrested 36-year-old Derrick Randall Jr. and charged him with first-degree murder. Authorities said an investigation was being conducted at a residence on Abercromby Street in east Charlotte, just outside Harrisburg.
"unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did of malice aforethought kill and murder Brandi Leshonne Merrick."
The language above appears in the arrest warrant filed against Randall, who was taken into custody and was being held at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office. According to police, the warrant alleges the killing occurred on June 12. Merrick has still not been found, police said, "despite continued efforts."
Authorities did not provide details publicly about the nature of any connection between Randall and Merrick, nor did they say whether Randall was the ex-boyfriend Merrick’s family had mentioned in media interviews. Police expect Randall to appear in court on the morning of Aug. 3.
What is known: timeline and locations
The facts released by police establish a narrow sequence of events but leave several open questions for investigators to answer about what happened and where Merrick might be. The information public so far:
- Early June – Merrick last seen in Harrisburg while staying with family.
- June 8 – Merrick reportedly left to visit her children and did not return.
- June 12 – Date alleged in the arrest warrant for when Merrick was killed.
- July 31 – Arrest and first-degree murder charge against Derrick Randall Jr.; investigators searched a home on Abercromby Street in east Charlotte.
- Aug. 3 – Randall’s next expected court appearance.
| Person | Age | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Brandi Leshonne Merrick | 37 | Missing; believed deceased |
| Derrick Randall Jr. | 36 | Charged with first-degree murder; in custody |
Community impact and unanswered questions
The arrest brings a measure of legal progress to a case that has been agonizing for Merrick’s family and the wider community. But significant questions remain. Police have acknowledged ongoing recovery efforts but have confirmed Merrick herself has not been located. How investigators linked Randall to the alleged killing, whether there were witnesses or physical evidence, and where Merrick might be remain matters for law enforcement and the courts.
For families in Harrisburg and east Charlotte, the case underscores persistent concerns about safety and about how missing-person investigations evolve into homicide probes. The appearance of an arrest warrant alleging a specific killing date — June 12 — narrows the period investigators will focus on, but does not yet explain how that date was established.
As the criminal process moves forward, the community can expect further updates from Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and public filings in Mecklenburg County court. The district attorney's office will handle prosecution of the first-degree murder charge if the case proceeds to trial.
In the near term, the most immediate landmarks are the recovery of Merrick and the next court appearance scheduled for Randall. Until one or both occur, many of the most basic questions in the case will remain open.
