For Immediate Release

March 2, 2021

A Kansas City man will serve 20 years in prison after a judge found him guilty of Murder 2nd Degree in connection to the fatal beating of Brandy K. Helbock-Castaneda in late 2015 or early 2016, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

Kevin O. Hurley, dob: 3/19/1958, was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison, after being found guilty of Murder 2nd Degree following a bench trial.*

According to court records, the victim's sister told Kansas City police that Brandy K. Castaneda was missed. She reported seeing her last on Dec. 5, 2015. On Jan. 8, 2016, Kansas City police responded to the 4900 block of Brooklyn Avenue on a reported dead body. They found the victim's body inside a black trash bag. She was identified as Brandy K. Helbock, the missing sister. The Jackson County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma. A DNA sample taken from the victim's left ankle matched to the defendant, who was serving life with parole for murder. The defendant denied knowing the victim. Further testing showed that DNA from a rope around the victim's hips matched the defendant. The profiled determined it was his DNA or someone in his paternal linage. More testing determined that Hurley's son also could be excluded as a potential contributor of DNA.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Jennifer Tatum and Lauren Barrett prosecuted this case on behalf of the state of Missouri.

For more information, contact:

Michael Mansur

Director of Communication

Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office

Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor

Work   : (816) 881-3812

Mobile: (816) 674-3954

mmansur@jacksongov.org

http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com

*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.