LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas – The family of Brandon Jenkins, a man convicted in 2015 of murdering his father-in-law in Liberty County, is holding onto hope after a judge recently ruled that critical evidence may not have been properly handled during his trial.
A Liberty County judge found that items were removed from the victim’s body before law enforcement secured the scene, and that prosecutors referenced a missing cell phone during opening statements without disclosing it to the defense. The court said this information could have been favorable and material to Jenkins’ self-defense claim.
“He’s been saying this for 11 years. That was his testimony in 2015, and it was overlooked,” said Ashley Thomas, Jenkins’ sister. “That was a major piece of the case.”
The victim and the incident
The victim, Brandon Jenkins’ father-in-law, had reportedly been close friends with Jenkins prior to the incident. According to family accounts, what began as a disagreement between the two men escalated into a physical altercation, resulting in the father-in-law’s death.
The family maintains that Jenkins acted in self-defense. Thomas described the men as “like two peas in a pod,” and said the confrontation was tragic rather than premeditated.
“Of course we believe Brandon acted in self-defense that day,” Thomas said. “It was a fight that got out of hand, and the court overlooked key evidence that could show that.”
The trial and conviction
Jenkins was convicted in 2015 in Liberty County and sentenced to 99 years in prison. The family argues that the trial was unfair because critical evidence was removed or withheld, including the victim’s cell phone and other items that could have shed light on the events of that day.
“Just imagine the families that don’t have the money to get the attorneys to fight for justice,” Thomas said. “I could just imagine how many more people are fighting cases just like this.”
Years of fighting for review
Reopening the case took over a decade of effort, financial resources, and legal assistance from outside the family. Thomas says the experience has made her reflect on the many families who might not have the same means to challenge a conviction.
“All I would ask is they could just be fair. Be fair, look at the facts,” she said.
Next Step: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
The case now moves to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s highest criminal court. Judges there will decide whether Jenkins’ trial should be reviewed and if he could be granted a new hearing based on the newly highlighted evidence.
For the Jenkins family, the legal process has been long and emotionally exhausting, but they remain determined to see justice applied fairly and equally, regardless of resources.
“We just want the facts to be looked at and the law to work the same for everyone,” Thomas said.