Bio

Brandon Joseph Rhode was born on July 16, 1979, in Mississippi. He was raised in a difficult environment. His mother was just 15 when she became pregnant with him and was unaware of her pregnancy for the first five months. During this time, she consumed alcohol and drugs, which impacted Brandon's early development.

As a child, Brandon faced many challenges. He began drinking alcohol at the age of 11 and was abusing drugs regularly by the time he was 13. This led to a suicide attempt when he was hospitalized at that young age. He dropped out of school at 15 and was sent to live with his biological father, who was also an alcoholic and drug addict. As a teenager, Brandon’s substance abuse intensified, and he turned to burglary to support his addiction.

Rhode's life was marked by instability and neglect. He experienced significant disruptions during his formative years due to his family’s issues with addiction, which affected his ability to function normally in society. His exposure to drugs and alcohol at a young age had lasting effects on his brain development, leading to diagnoses of organic brain damage and a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder later in life.

Murder Story

On April 23, 1998, Brandon Joseph Rhode and his co-perpetrator Daniel Lucas attempted to burglarize the Moss family home in Jones County, Georgia. During their initial burglary, they noticed an alarm system and fled the scene. However, they returned later that day to continue their search for valuables.

As they ransacked the home, 11-year-old Bryan Moss saw them through a front window. He bravely entered the house through a back door, armed with a baseball bat. Rhode and Lucas quickly subdued Bryan, forcing him to sit in a chair at gunpoint. At this point, Lucas shot Bryan in the shoulder.

When they heard 15-year-old Kristin Moss approaching the home, Rhode forced her into a chair and shot her twice with a .357 caliber pistol. A short time later, Steven Moss, the father, arrived home. Rhode ambushed him, shooting him with the same weapon. Later on, Lucas ensured that all three victims were dead by shooting each of them once more.

Rhode and Lucas were quickly apprehended. During the investigation, witnesses testified about they saw a car resembling Rhode's near the Moss home. Physical evidence gathered from Rhode's vehicle linked him to the crime scene. Rhode ultimately confessed to law enforcement, admitting his role in the shootings.

In 2000, Rhode was convicted of three counts of murder and sentenced to death by lethal injection. He later attempted suicide just days before his execution. After numerous appeals were denied, Brandon Joseph Rhode was executed on September 27, 2010.