Brandi Byrd Reynolds Obituary, HAYS, N.C. — A Wilkes County man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping following the fatal shooting of U.S. Postal Service employee Brandi Byrd Reynolds on Friday afternoon in the Hays community, according to the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said deputies responded around 4:00 p.m. on June 26 to a residence in the 300 block of Monteith Acres Road after receiving a 911 call reporting that a woman had been shot. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found Reynolds suffering from gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency response efforts.
The victim was later identified as Brandi Byrd Reynolds, a U.S. Postal Service employee. Investigators stated that she was inside a vehicle at the time of the shooting, which led to her death at the scene.
The suspect, William Craig Durham, 56, of Roaring River, has been arrested and is being held without bond at the Wilkes County Jail. He has been formally charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the incident.
According to investigators, the kidnapping charge stems from allegations that Reynolds was abducted and seriously injured prior to the fatal shooting. Authorities also reported witness accounts involving a gray Nissan Altima seen in connection with the incident, as well as claims that a firearm was displayed and threats were made during the events leading up to the shooting.
Officials further confirmed that a U.S. Postal Service vehicle was involved in the case, and multiple residents reported hearing gunshots before law enforcement arrived at the scene. Durham is scheduled to make his first court appearance on June 29 in Wilkes County court.
The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains active, and authorities have not yet released details regarding a possible motive or the relationship between the suspect and the victim. Additional updates are expected as the case proceeds through the judicial system.
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