A prosecutor revealed disturbing details about a man who allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend’s 16-year-old daughter while arguing for a $2 million bond. When authorities arrived, Defendant Van Brisbon, 60, was allegedly wearing his pants down.
According to authorities in Harris County, Texas, the victim, Lauren Juma, 16, was discovered dead with her pants down as well.
“The defendant shot and killed his stepdaughter who was 16-years-old and who was found with her pants around her knees deceased when police arrived, and the defendant’s pants were also down,” a prosecutor said in a bond hearing over video conference on Friday, which Brisbon did not attend.
Brisbon had lived in Houston for six years and worked as an independent contractor for a company for the previous year, according to a defense lawyer who requested a $50,000 bond and argued against the state’s request for house arrest.
The judge eventually set bond at $1 million, with electronic monitoring and no-contact orders in place to protect the teen’s family.
As the judge described the allegations, the girl’s mother was contacted, and she was concerned about Brisbon showing “erratic behavior.”
“We do know that the mother was out of town, and she has since returned,” Harris County sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Wolfford told KHOU. “She immediately came back. We do have information that she had been on the phone with the 16-year-old prior to her murder.”
The mother, according to the judge, contacted her other daughter and asked her to go to the house. The police were summoned. Two shots were fired before they could enter the house. According to the judge, the 16-year-old had been shot in the head.
“It’s also noted that her pants were supposedly down around her ankles and also it’s noted that police observed allegedly that Mr. Brison–He was pulling his pants up as he exited the home,” the judge said. “So I have serious concerns for community safety and for the safety of this complainant’s family.”
According to reports, the 16-year-old, her mother, and Brisbon all resided at the home. At the time, Wolfford stated, only the teenager and Brisbon were present. According to his account, there was a gunshot, screaming, and then another gunshot. The 60-year-old walked out immediately following the shooting, he said.
Brisbon faces a murder charge.
