- Brandi Byrd Reynolds, a postal worker and mother, was killed while delivering mail in Hays, North Carolina.
- The suspect, William Craig Durham, has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
- Reynolds leaves behind two daughters after her husband passed away in a crash just months earlier.
HAYS, NORTH CAROLINA — Weeks after a former North Carolina school counselor was released on bond after felony charges expanded, another North Carolina case has left a community grieving. This time, a postal worker and mother of two was killed while delivering mail, just months after her husband died in a crash.
Brandi Byrd Reynolds was working her United States Postal Service route on Friday, June 26, when she was killed in rural Wilkes County.
Postal Worker Found Dead
Authorities said the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for law enforcement assistance around 4:16 p.m. in Hays, North Carolina.
When deputies arrived, they found Reynolds dead at the scene.
Reports said Reynolds had been working her mail route when the attack happened.
A witness reportedly saw an armed man in a gray Nissan Altima threatening Reynolds before multiple gunshots were heard.
Suspect Arrested
Investigators identified the suspect as 56-year-old William Craig Durham.
Durham was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
Court records allege Durham restrained Reynolds before she was killed.
He is also accused of moving her from one place to another without her consent.
Authorities have not publicly released a motive.
Held Without Bond
Durham appeared before a judge on Monday.
During the hearing, a family member of Reynolds reportedly told the court that Durham had threatened her in the past and had previously broken into her home.
The family member asked the judge to deny bond because of concern for Reynolds’ two daughters.
The judge granted the request, and Durham was ordered held without bond.
Family Had Already Faced Tragedy
Reynolds’ death came only months after her husband, Brent Reynolds, died in a single-vehicle crash.
The crash happened on December 23, 2025, in Wilkes County.
Investigators said Brent Reynolds was driving a 2014 Ram truck when it went off the road, hit a tree, and overturned.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
After his death, Brandi Reynolds shared posts about her daughters and described them as the reason she kept going.
Community Mourns Mail Carrier
Residents along Reynolds’ mail route said they were shocked by her death.
Neighbors described her as friendly, reliable, and hardworking.
One resident said people in the area counted on her and looked forward to seeing her vehicle on the route.
For the community, her death has left a painful absence.
Investigation Continues
The case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Durham remains in custody as the charges move forward in court.
Reynolds leaves behind two daughters who lost both parents within months.
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