Two held on murder charges in death of SNL writer's sister

Los Angeles police have arrested two individuals on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of Christina Downer. The suspects, 41-year-old Delorean Bijon Brandon and 34-year-old Kaylee Nicole Markowski, were taken into custody on Oct. 29. Both were booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center, where bail was set at $2 million for each.

The arrests mark a definitive end to a ten-month search for Downer, who was reported missing on Dec. 18, 2025. Her ex-husband had requested a welfare check after failing to hear from her for an extended period. At that time, Brandon told investigators that Downer had moved out of the residence months earlier. He noted that she had left behind all of her personal belongings, including her vehicle and her dog.

The investigation shifted from a missing persons case to a homicide inquiry after Downer's cellphone washed ashore on Santa Monica Beach. Homicide detectives took over the case following the discovery of the device. They subsequently identified Brandon and Markowski as the individuals responsible for her death. The department charged them with murder, the disposal of a body, and the concealment of their involvement.

Downer was the sister of Jimmy Fowlie, a former writer for Saturday Night Live. On April 29, Fowlie posted on Instagram that LAPD had informed the family Downer was no longer alive. He stated that the agency had transitioned the case to a homicide investigation. Fowlie said he shared the news because he believed those responsible were attempting to erase her existence. He described his sister as a beautiful person who mattered in the world, particularly to him.

Brandon was apprehended in the 6000 block of Garvanza Avenue in Los Angeles. Markowski was arrested in the 6000 block of Tampa Avenue in Tarzana. Both suspects now face charges for the actions leading to Downer's death and the subsequent hiding of her remains.

The case spans from the initial welfare check in late 2025 to the current arrests in late October 2026. The timeline includes the discovery of the phone, the formal charging of the suspects, and the public announcement by the family. No trial date has been announced.