Man charged in murder of former SNL writer's sister
Prosecutors say the body of Christina Downer has not been found, and her alleged accomplice is accused of helping dispose of it.
By Olivia Barnes ·
Prosecutors charged a Los Angeles man with the murder of Christina Downer, the sister of former Saturday Night Live writer Jimmy Fowlie. The 38-year-old woman remains missing, and authorities have not located her body.
Delorean Bijon Brandon, 41, was booked Monday on one count of murder. The criminal complaint places the alleged crime on or about Sept. 19, 2025. Brandon also faces two felony counts for injuring his wife in a 2022 incident. His record includes a 2008 conviction for robbery and attempted robbery, as well as a 2015 conviction for criminal threats.
Downer was reported missing on Dec. 18, 2025. Her ex-husband contacted the Los Angeles Police Department to request a welfare check after he had not heard from her for a long time. Brandon told police that Downer moved out of their home several months prior to her disappearance. He claimed she left behind all her personal items, including her vehicle and her dog.
Detectives from the Robbery-Homicide Division took over the case after Downer's cellphone washed ashore at Santa Monica Beach. The team arrested Brandon and Kaylee Markowski, 34, last Thursday. Markowski, identified by the District Attorney's Office as Brandon's girlfriend, was charged with one felony count of being an accessory after the fact. Prosecutors accuse her of helping Brandon dispose of the victim's body.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman addressed the delay in finding the body in a statement. He noted that more than a year had passed since Downer vanished. He said her family and friends had endured uncertainty and profound loss. Hochman stated that the prosecution would hold both defendants accountable for their actions.
The arraignment for the two defendants was postponed to Dec. 29. If convicted as charged, Brandon faces a potential life prison term. Markowski could face up to three years in county jail.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed the charges against both suspects. The case remains active as the investigation continues.
Source: KNBC
