Rosalind Brown

Case record: Rosalind Brown

Other details

Rosalind Brown was a defendant in the 1985 slaying of Christopher Alan Brown, her 11-year-old stepson. She was sentenced to spend the rest of her life in prison without parole for Christopher’s death.

Christopher Alan Brown was reported missing in April 1985 from his father and stepmother’s home in Genesee Township. His death was first ruled accidental when his body was found in the Flint River on April 30, 1985, but the case was reopened after Brenda Simpson refused to accept that conclusion and spent years urging police to reopen it.

Investigators exhumed the body after a fresh look at the case in 2004. Investigators found evidence that the boy had been poisoned. State prosecutors alleged that Rosalind Brown and her brother Montel Pettiford poisoned Christopher then dumped his body in the Flint River to make the death appear to be a drowning.

At the time of the charges, the Attorney General Mike Cox announced arrest and first-degree murder charges against Rosalind Laurice Brown, a Wyoming, Michigan resident, and Montel Joseph Pettiford, a Flint, Michigan resident. Rosalind Laurice Brown was described as 50 years old and as the stepmother to the victim. Montel Joseph Pettiford was described as 43 years old and as the brother of defendant Rosalind Brown.

The offence

Brenda Simpson’s statements reflected the belief that Christopher would never be brought back. Christopher’s death was described as the result of poisoning, followed by placement of his body in the Flint River.

State prosecutors argued that Rosalind Brown and Pettiford poisoned Christopher and then dumped his body in the Flint River to make his death appear to be a drowning. Another account described the allegations as spiking the boy’s food and drink with poison before tossing his body in the Flint River, with the death later ruled an accidental drowning when his body was found.

Investigation

The case reopened in 2004 after Brenda Simpson’s urging. The reopened investigation involved witness interviews that had not been interviewed back in 1985.

Following those interviews, the victim’s body was exhumed in February 2005 by the Genesee Township Police Department. The results of that investigation were turned over to the Attorney General’s office.

A major break in the case was described as coming from toxicology reports showing that Christopher had a substance in his system strong enough to incapacitate him, and that the substance could have only gotten there through ingestion.

Arrest

Attorney General Mike Cox announced the arrest of two persons on first-degree murder charges relating to Christopher Alan Brown’s 1985 murder. The announcement described the defendants as Rosalind Laurice Brown, a Wyoming, Michigan resident, and Montel Joseph Pettiford, a Flint, Michigan resident.

The announcement stated that Christopher Brown disappeared on April 12, 1985 while residing at his stepmother’s residence located at 1066 Harvard Street, Flint, over the Easter break holiday. It also stated that Christopher was last seen standing in front of the residence playing with a basketball. A clothing description given to police described Christopher Brown wearing blue jeans, a maroon jacket, shirt, and white shoes.

Trial

A jury found Rosalind L. Brown and Montel Pettiford guilty of first-degree murder in Christopher Alan Brown’s death. The guilty verdict followed two separate juries taking two days to find them guilty of first-degree murder.

At sentencing, Pettiford and Brown maintained their innocence. Defense attorneys argued the death was accidental. Pettiford said: "You're blaming the wrong one." Rosalind Brown vowed to fight the case on appeal and said: "I'll be back soon," before being led away in chains.

Genesee Circuit Judge Richard B. Yuille handed down the mandatory sentences on September 22, 2008, a month after the jury found the pair guilty of first-degree murder.

Sentencing

On September 22, 2008, Rosalind L. Brown and Montel Pettiford were sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison for the 1985 slaying of Christopher, with mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Emotional statements from Brenda Simpson, her husband Willie, and Christopher’s father Jestine Brown were described as occurring at sentencing. Brenda Simpson said: "I know that according to God's law, one day, I will have to find forgiveness in my heart for these people," and added: "Today is not that day." Brenda Simpson also said: "What terrible thing could my child have done to the two of you for you to take his life? What gave you the right?"

Jestine Brown asked his wife how she could lay in bed next to him for 20 years after killing his son. Jestine Brown also said: "You took away the most precious thing in my life," and was still living with Brown near Grand Rapids when she was arrested last year.

Attorney General Mike Cox was quoted regarding the case: "Today's case is the final chapter of a sad story -- but it is a reminder that justice never rests, and will always prevail."

Oronde Patterson, an assistant attorney general, said: "We had to do it," and also described the case as difficult to prove because it relied on witness memories and said: "We had to do it,". Yuille was quoted as admitting skepticism when the case began and said: "it all made sense."

Timeline

• April 12, 1985 — Christopher Brown disappeared while residing at his stepmother’s residence located at 1066 Harvard Street, Flint, over the Easter break holiday.
• April 30, 1985 — Christopher Brown’s body was recovered from the Flint River; the original death certificate determined that the drowning was accidental and the case was closed.
• November 2004 — The case reopened starting with the interview of witnesses who had not been interviewed back in 1985.
• February 2005 — The victim’s body was exhumed by the Genesee Township Police Department and results were turned over to the Attorney General’s office.
• August 26, 2008 — Two separate juries took two days to find Rosalind L. Brown and Montel Pettiford guilty of first-degree murder.
• September 22, 2008 — Rosalind L. Brown and Montel Pettiford were sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Outcome

Rosalind L. Brown was found guilty of first-degree murder in Christopher Alan Brown’s death and was sentenced to life in prison without parole on September 22, 2008.